The deliverables in the Future City competition—open to children in grades six through eight—include a virtual city design (using SimCity), a scale model, a project plan, and more.

Tatiana Sanchez provides a dispatch from the Northern California Future City competition, where "40 teams of middle school students from across the Bay Area and beyond who showcased their 'future cities' on large tabletop models."
According to Sanchez, Future City "challenges students to imagine, design and build the cities of their dreams." This year's competition focused on the challenges of the "The Age-Friendly City," asking students "to create cities that would be accommodating of older generations."
Sanzhez notes that Future City's mission is to introduce careers in the sciences and engineering to students of all demographic backgrounds—previous competitions focusing on stormwater management, urban agriculture, public spaces, and green energy show that the competition cultivates an early interest and knowledge of the many forms of planning is inherent in the process.
Regional competition winners from around the country will meet in Washington, D.C. this February to determine a national winner.
FULL STORY: Middle schoolers compete to create ‘future cities’ for older generations

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.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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