Fresh stories: How Inclusive Design Can Improve Our Public Spaces & 12 more
March 9, 2023 Edition
Curated by Konveio
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll uncover new insights on adapting to climate change, the hidden costs associated with urban sprawl, and you'll learn how cities throughout Europe and North American are addressing light pollution.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with recommendations, we’re always looking for your input!
Lauren Sibley
EngagingCities Editor
Featured Story
Inclusive Urban Design
Our world is rapidly changing, and as changes come we are seeing more of an emphasis placed on creating spaces for everyone. For differently-abled people being in or navigating through public spaces that they are unfamiliar with can be daunting. If we continue to prioritize inclusive design when creating our public spaces, we will inevitably enhance the experience of everyone who comes.
— Shared by Rajesh Purushothaman
Amplifying Progress
EngagingCities shares stories by our network of community builders that collaboratively plan for a brighter, cleaner, and more equitable tomorrow.
Featured stories from the last two weeks:
🔥 Hot Takes
🎤 The Role of Land Use Planning in Climate Change
Can mitigating climate change really be as simple as improving our interaction with the land? Often when we talk about turning the tide of climate change, it involves big, dramatic changes to our society. Our current land use planning actually increases greenhouse gas emissions. If we start more efficiently using, protecting, and repairing our land then we can help mitigate climate change, but we need to start today.
— Shared by Emily Weeks
🎤 A World Without Nature - Learning to live in harmony with nature, will insure our own survival.
— Shared by Idril Orden
🎤 Office Space to Housing Conversion - This current commercial real estate market present perhaps the greatest opportunity in decades to make cities more affordable.
— Shared by Michael Beckerman
🎤 Tell Me About Urban Farming - The so-called “Green Revolutions” has transformed the urban agriculture sector.
— Shared by Ella Brockhaus
📝 Insights
💡 The Hidden Cost of Urban Sprawl
Why don’t we plan for density? Why do most zoning laws encourage sprawl-like growth? The hidden costs associated with sprawl can be extremely detrimental to our economic growth and environmental preservation. Even as we seek to make alterations to mitigate climate change and create affordable housing we fight our own laws and restrictions. The changes required are big, and will take time, but in the end will be worth it.
— Shared by Bill Rigler
💡 The Benefit of AI in Urban Planning - The key benefits of AI integration for urban designers, transportation planners, architects & municipalities in cities that are growing in density.
— Shared by Ara Keuroghlian
💡 Park Planning - The first vitally important step in planning a park, is community engagement.
— Shared by Tim May
💡 Why Materials Matter - We know considering the location and material type in landscape design is an important factor in addressing climate change. So, why aren’t we doing anything about it?
— Shared by Emma Content
🥳 Success Stories
✅ New Light Pollution in Czech
The battle against light pollution is a relatively quiet one. Light pollution affects many facets of our lives. A majority of people in this world live under an artificially lit night sky, which affects not only our environment, but our energy consumption and our health. Many cities and countries around the world are adding ordinances and regulations to their municipalitie's codes to help guide them on light pollution reduction.
— Shared by Ruskin Hartley
✅ Cleveland Leaders Take Transit Week Challenge - This is an important step for transit officials, board members, and local leaders to develop a better appreciation of the reality of riding transit in their communities.
— Shared by Courtney Reynolds
✅ ArcGIS Story Maps Used to Present Park Master Plan - An excellent use of ArcGIS StoryMaps by Strathcona County in Alberta to communicate their Regional Park Master Plan concept options.
— Shared by Jacqueline Scott
✅ 5 Cities With Equitable Transit - Cities are getting creative to make transit more equitable in their communities.
— Shared by Ellie Agnew
🗓 Upcoming Events Mark your calendars
Webinar: 3/14 Strategies to Revitalize Community Engagement Shared by Krystal Wu
Do you have interesting resources, events, etc. to share?
Send us your tips to hello@engagingcities.com
