The Bard of Avon would be proud.
Emily Thenhaus writes a post sharing the creative work on the part of the Regional Plan Association (RPA) to transform their planning work into poetry.
To introduce the idea, Thenhaus acknowledges the prosaic nature of the planning profession's chosen genres: "The report. The study. The long PDF assigned in classes, passed out at events and piled on desks. But is it ever read?"
To counter the effects of esotericism, RPA "created a few quick, albeit oversimplified, haikus for some of RPA’s wonky and perhaps not-so-well-known studies."
The result is planning poetry, or the lyricism of land use, or the couplets of community. You get the idea. Here are a few fun examples, with more after clicking through to the article:
Kings Queens Bronx Staten:
Sometimes we don’t want to go
into Manhattan.
— Overlooked Boroughs: Where New York City’s Transit Falls Short and How to Fix It
L closed for repairs
Yes, the time is ripe to make
a train worth the wait
FULL STORY: Urban Planning, in Verse
New Healthy Regions Planning Exchange Targets Health Inequities
A new Regional Plan Association initiative is assessing potential solutions to historic inequities in planning policy.
Five Borough Bikeway Plan Released
The Regional Plan Association is calling on New York City to implement an ambitious plan to transform the city into a world class city for biking—for the benefit of the public health and economic realities of the pandemic and beyond.
Opinion: Proposed $21 Billion Transportation Spending Plan a Step in the Right Direction
A representative of the Regional Plan Association calls for Connecticut's political leadership to go even further in changing the transportation and land use planning paradigm in the state.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)