Green Space

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Canada geese on lawn in city park with high-rise buildings in background in Vancouver, Canada.

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.

April 21, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Aerial view of green park with purple blooming jacaranda trees in Pasadena, California.

Los Angeles County Invests in Wildfire Recovery for Parks, Trails, and Open Space

The $4.25 million RESTORE Program supports the recovery of parks, trails, and open spaces damaged by the January 2025 wildfires through targeted grants that promote community healing, wildfire resilience, and equitable access to nature.

April 14, 2025 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Downtown Los Angeles skyline viewed from a distance with freeway and trees in foreground.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods

A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

April 3, 2025 - USC Dornsife

School District of Philadelphia building with large silver title lettering and taller buildings visible in background.

Concrete to Community: A Schoolyard Makeover in West Philly

With guidance from the Trust for Public Land, third graders at Overbrook Elementary are leading the redesign of their asphalt schoolyard into a vibrant green space, learning valuable skills and creating lasting community impact in the process.

March 31, 2025 - WHYY

Purple, orange, and yellow wildflowers in a field in California.

Climate Gardening: Cultivating Resilient Landscapes in Los Angeles

TreePeople’s 4th Annual Urban Soil Symposium explored how climate gardening, soil health, and collaborative land management strategies can enhance urban resilience in the face of climate change.

March 24, 2025 - TreePeople

Small tree in bloom with pink flowers in front of home in Toronto, Canada.

The Most Popular Tree on Google?

Meet Rodney: the Toronto tree getting rave reviews.

March 21, 2025 - Toronto Star

Group of people being led in yoga by two instructors on large public lawn.

The Panacea of Outdoor Human Movement

Humans relish in over-complicating things, but the sweetest and healthiest things in life are the simplest.

March 20, 2025 - April Economides

Park pond at sunset with Los Angeles skyline in background.

Expanding Green Spaces in Greater LA: Challenges and Solutions

Creating parks and open space in L.A. County requires overcoming land scarcity, high costs, and other challenges through strategic partnerships, innovative multi-benefit designs, and policy reforms to ensure equitable access and sustainability.

March 17, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Lush Five Rivers Metropark in Dayton, Ohio with flowers and green trees on a sunny day.

A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton

Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.

March 4, 2025 - Dayton Daily News

Trees in bloom with pink flowers on a residential street in Seattle, Washington.

Opinion: Housing Versus Trees Is a False Choice; Swap Pavement for Trees Instead

Seattle’s goal to cover 30 percent of the city with tree canopy by 2037 doesn’t need to be sacrificed in favor of density. There’s a better way.

February 26, 2025 - The Urbanist

Red tailed hawk in flight with scrubland hills and trees in background in San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center, California.

A Greener LA County: 623 Acres of New Parkland for Communities

Los Angeles County is investing $17 million to create 623 acres of new parks and open spaces, expanding access to nature, advancing equity, and enhancing community health and well-being.

February 26, 2025 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Skating rink under freeway in Bentway park in Toronto, Canada.

Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track

The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.

February 24, 2025 - The Globe and Mail

Large banyan tree in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Growing Green: How Parks and Trees Shape Honolulu’s Future

Honolulu is expanding its urban tree canopy through community-driven park revitalization efforts, emphasizing the environmental, social, and cultural benefits of trees in creating a more resilient and equitable city.

February 23, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Small trees on city sidewlak with glass buildings in background.

Urban Forestry as a Pathway to Equity and Opportunity

Urban forestry job training programs are creating economic opportunities for underrepresented individuals while addressing workforce shortages and advancing tree equity in communities most impacted by environmental disparities.

February 17, 2025 - American Forests

Fort Mill, South Carolina: Kingsley Town Center. Mixed use development of repurposed textile mill with smokestack and streets "Textile Way" and "Broadcloth Street."

Rethinking Suburban Development: New Trends in Creating Livable Communities

Discover new trends in suburban development focused on creating more livable, sustainable communities for future growth.

February 17, 2025 - Devin Partida

Tall mature green trees lining a concrete walkway next to a street with multistory apartment buildings on other side and sun filtering through the leaves.

New Interactive Tool Helps Cities Assess and Strengthen Urban Tree Canopies

A new national tree canopy assessment tool, available at TreesAtWork.org, provides high-resolution data to help cities track tree cover changes, prioritize planting efforts, and enhance urban resilience.

February 3, 2025 - Arbor Day Foundation

Young child riding scooter on gravel path in park.

Parks as Community Lifelines: Supporting Residents During Times of Crisis

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation demonstrates how parks serve as vital community infrastructure by adapting to crises, offering public health services, disaster relief, and essential support for residents in need.

January 30, 2025 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Aerial view of Annapolis, Maryland.

Annapolis Unveils Interactive Map to Boost Urban Tree Canopy

Annapolis has launched an interactive Tree Canopy Map to engage residents in urban forestry efforts, highlighting tree coverage data and encouraging community involvement to achieve the city’s 50 percent canopy goal by 2050.

January 26, 2025 - Eye on Annapolis

Aerial view of Klyde Warren deck park on freeway cap in downtown Dallas, Texas.

I Help Plan Cap Parks; Here’s What Austin Can Learn from Other Cities

How freeway capping projects can literally and metaphorically bridge urban divides.

January 24, 2025 - Dan Biederman

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.