Public Health

View straight down empty wide street in downtown Toronto, Canada with stoplights during Covid-19 pandemic.

Sound Equity: The Unequal Impacts of Covid’s ‘Great Silence’

During the pandemic, many neighborhoods became quieter than ever—but not everyone experienced the benefits equally.

October 23, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

California state capitol building dome with U.S., California, and POW/MIA flags on flagpole

Election 2024: California Voters to Decide on $6 Billion Homelessness Bond

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two ‘behavioral health’ bills that put Proposition 1 on the March 2024 ballot, targeting the housing, mental health, and substance use treatment needs of homeless residents living in encampments. Opposition has arisen.

October 18, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Map showing Mission Boulevard Linear Park in Hayward, California and bubbles highlighting types of trees along park area.

Parks Departments Try to Build New Green Spaces on Shrinking Budgets

Even as the role of parks and urban green space in public and ecological health becomes more apparent, city budgets are hard-pressed to meet the costs of park construction and maintenance.

October 17, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Group of four children with backpacks and helmets riding and walking their bikes.

Study: School Biking Programs Can Boost Student Health

A survey of middle school students who participated in in-school cycling programs showed a potential correlation to improved mental health.

October 16, 2023 - Loma Linda University Health

Sidewalk bus stop with bench and no shade in Los Angeles, California

Mitigating the Impact of UV Radiation

A new project aims to understand the unseen impact of ultraviolet radiation beyond extreme heat and mitigate its effects on people.

October 12, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

View of dark night sky with visible Milky Way over dark forest.

The Importance of Dark Skies

Why light pollution harms humans and the environment.

October 11, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

High-rise modern apartment buildings with green space in front courtyard with outdoor exercise equipment.

Architecture and the Housing Crisis

A new book brings architects into the housing discussion.

September 25, 2023 - Next City

Aerial view of large warehouses in Southern California with hills in background.

California Air Regulators to Crack Down on Warehouses

Truck traffic to and from Southern California warehouses accounts for as much pollution as refineries, power plants, and other industrial polluters combined.

September 22, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Man in orange jacket wearing surgical mask and bike helmet looks at phone while wearing delivery backpack and holding bicycle

How Long Covid Changes the Transportation Conversation

People living with long Covid symptoms can find themselves unable to make the same mobility choices they used to.

September 20, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial gondola car in the air overlooking the city of Medellin, Colombia.

Harnessing Data for Community Development

Using data and insights encourages the development of a community, offering an evidence-based strategy to directly address the needs within.

September 20, 2023 - Devin Partida

Close-up of window-mounted air conditioning unit on outside of red brick building

Report: ‘Energy Insecurity’ Hits Black Households Hardest

Extreme heat, poor housing quality, and the heat island effect make it harder for many households to afford energy bills.

September 17, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Atlanta BeltLine greenway with multistory buildings one ither side

How to Avoid Green Gentrification

New parks are great—but some projects displace the very people the green spaces are meant to serve.

September 11, 2023 - Next City

Air pollution is visible in the air around high-rise buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says

Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.

August 31, 2023 - Phys.org

View of empty paved schoolyard with green picnic benches and basketball hoops in Malibu, California

Expanding Schoolyard Greening in California

To protect kids from extreme heat, California just distributed another $73 million to local school districts to transform schoolyards by converting blacktops to green spaces, planting trees, and other related efforts.

August 25, 2023 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View of Echo Park Lake at night with artesian fountain and illuminated swan paddle boats and Los Angeles skyline in background

Recreational Programming Helps Communities to Thrive

Los Angeles County's popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program offers multiple important benefits, as documented in a recent UCLA study.

August 23, 2023 - UCLA Newsroom

A pregnant woman holds hand with a man in an urban setting.

Walkable Neighborhoods Connected to Healthier Pregnancies, Births

More evidence of the public health benefits of walkable neighborhoods.

August 22, 2023 - University of New Hampshire

Lightning strikes over Tucson, Arizona at night during monsoon storm

Tucson Braces for Extreme Weather With Climate Action Plan

The desert city faces a growing risk from extreme heat waves and stronger, more unpredictable storms.

August 3, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Man painting "HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT" mural in black paint on bright yellow fence

California Ballot Measures Would Aid the Mentally Ill and Drug-Addicted Homeless

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in March a two-part ballot initiative to tackle homelessness, focusing on mental illness and substance abuse, which would provide 10,000 beds in new, voluntary treatment facilities—but one funding source is controversial.

July 31, 2023 - CALmatters

Man drinking water from plastic bottle sillhouetted against orange sky signaling extreme heat

Biden Administration Announces Federal Heat Safety Policies

As extreme heat waves become more common and widespread, the administration is directing federal resources to heat mitigation efforts.

July 31, 2023 - NBC 4

View from behind lifeguard standing in front of crowded public swimming pool wearing yellow shirt with LIFEGUARD in red lettering and red sun hat

The Lifesaving Power of Public Pools

For many children who grow up without access to pools or lakes, access to swimming lessons and facilities can provide lifesaving skills.

July 28, 2023 - The New York Times

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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.