New York City's Play Streets program has shrunk dramatically because of obstructive bureaucracy and lack of funding, argues Brad Aaron.
The Play Streets program has existed in New York City for years, but it's shrinking. The program is down 90 percent from its peak in the '90s. "Community groups looking to host Play Streets must go through an onerous application process with multiple veto points," Brad Aaron writes for Streetsblog NYC.
The Police Athletic League has cut its spending on the program and now focuses more on "structured play" like sports leagues. Still, many argue the city is losing something important, the structured play happens in facilities that may be too far for some children to travel. What's more it doesn't accomplish the goal set out by the Play Streets founder–to make streets fun and safe for people and, especially, for children.
FULL STORY: NYC Kids Shouldn’t Have to Jump Through Hoops to Get a Play Street on Their Block
New York Mayor Announces ‘Get Stuff Built’ Housing Plan
Mayor Adams says the new plan will cut building processes by 50 percent to accelerate badly needed housing construction, but parts of the proposal still face hurdles to get approved.
New York City's Transportation Future Hindered by a Dysfunctional Present
Too many innovative proposals to solve the city’s biggest transportation problems fall by the wayside.
NYC: What Mamdani’s Rivals Can Teach Him About Transportation
The mayoral candidate won on a bold, progressive platform. Some of his opponents had even bolder ideas.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
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
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont