West Hollywood, California Mayor John D'Amico is leading calls to add more dog-friendly amenities to designs for Phase 2 of the city's civic park.
"The city of West Hollywood has spared no expense in a lavish makeover of its central park," according to Hailey Branson-Potts. "First came a chic library and rooftop tennis courts, to the tune of $61 million. Just approved is an additional $86 million in amenities, including two rooftop swimming pools, a $3-million 'grand staircase' and a landscaped rooftop 'respite deck.'"
But there's a problem with all this new public space, according to the article, which gets at the question of what kind of city West Hollywood wants to be: "Why should a city famous for its fairness have a showplace park with three children's play areas but nowhere for its dogs to run free?" asks Branson-Potts. Mayor John D'Amico, in fact, calls it a "sort of institutional fetishization of kids." He's also commented recently: "We love our children here….But … this is an adult city."
According to the article, the City Council has asked the park's designers LPA Inc. and Rios Clementi Hale Studios, to include a dog park in the $86 million of improvements approved for Phase 2 of West Hollywood Park.
FULL STORY: West Hollywood mayor, others want a more dog-friendly park design
Study: How Urban Parks Can Support Biodiversity
Conservation and recreation can go hand in hand in urban green spaces designed to serve both humans and local wildlife.
How Community Science Connects People, Parks, and Biodiversity
Community science engages people of all backgrounds in documenting local biodiversity, strengthening connections to nature, and contributing to global efforts like the City Nature Challenge to build a more inclusive and resilient future.
Public and Private Collaboration Advances Park Development in Houston
Houston may be known to some as a concrete jungle, but its greenspaces continue to expand thanks to combined support from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service