Extreme weather is weakening social connections

Extreme heat, flooding and other weather events are increasing isolation and fraying social ties.

flip.it

What makes a neighborhood truly pedestrian-friendly?

A sedentary lifestyle is a trap lurking around every corner, and adopting more active lifestyles is an increasing priority

flip.it

How Much of N.Y.C. Is Covered by Trees? Not Enough.

A goal to improve and expand the city’s tree canopy lacks a solid plan and the money to enact one.

nytimes.com

How urban design makes the world unsafe for women — and how we can change that

An industrial designer explains how cities, cars and other everyday items could better serve women.

planetizen.com

The Comforting Resurgence of ‘Grandma Hobbies’

In search of calm and community, new generations are learning centuries-old skills.

nytimes.com

Dallas considers billboard ads in city parks to help avoid deep budget cuts

Dallas leaders weigh commercial billboards in public parks to generate revenue and prevent $13M budget cuts and service reductions. | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD

audacy.com

America faces a 'fun shortage'

The United States has lost nearly a third of its bowling alleys and a fifth of its movie theaters since 2001.

planetizen.com

North Carolina eliminates parking minimums in most of state

A new state law prevents cities from requiring a certain number of parking spaces for new developments.

planetizen.com

‘If a space is cared for, everything improves’: Meet four gardeners transforming their urban communities

From improving biodiversity to managing antisocial behaviour, the benefits of greening towns and cities are massive. These names are leading the charge…

theguardian.com

2026’s Best Cities for Outdoor Parties

Discover which U.S. cities shine in 2026’s Best Cities for Outdoor Parties ranking, based on outdoor venue options, park accessibility, party supply resources, and climate comfort for year-round celeb...

lawnstarter.com

These 10 US cities have the ‘stickiest’ downtowns

Frequency and length of visits by city residents make these 10 downtowns stand apart, Gensler says.

smartcitiesdive.com

Green Infrastructure: How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Dangerous Urban Heat Islands

Image credits: Pexels Summer in Phoenix. Summer in Chicago. Summer in Houston. The experience across US cities is converging on a common reality: walking outside feels like stepping into an oven. Conc...

yahoo.com

North Carolina's Once-Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital Is Now A Thriving Urban Park In Raleigh - Islands

Raleigh is one of the most forward-thinking cities in the United States, and the tumultuous history of this gorgeous urban park is yet another example of that.

islands.com

Raleigh wants to plant 24,000 trees by its 240th birthday. There’s a problem.

Raleigh’s tree-planting program was set to begin in the new fiscal year that begins July 1, but the budget does not include any of the $650,000 its first year could cost.

newsobserver.com

Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone

A new book profiles women leaders shaping the future of modern cities. These are some of their stories.

planetizen.com

How urban design can deter crime

Well-designed public spaces and good lighting can prevent crime and make residents feel safer.

flip.it

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type

A new study has shown that more vegetation is not automatically better.

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Opinion: A city that forgets its parks forgets its people

Public spaces where people meet, move and build community are some of the last affordable spaces left in a city where so much is priced out.

vancouversun.com

How 4 cities are reshaping parks into strategic climate and community infrastructure

Urban parks can boost resilience, improve stormwater management and advance neighborhood equity, strengthening social cohesion in the process, the parks’ developers say.

smartcitiesdive.com

Let’s Get Serious About Fixing Our Sidewalks

They’re a crucial public resource, but cities don’t manage or maintain them well. There is plenty they could be doing.

flip.it

People share ideas for new experiences, offerings at Fort Monroe

Fort Monroe could shape the trajectory of the region and state, says CEO Scott Martin.

share.google

Only one US city makes the Happy City Index top 50

The list is topped by Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Geneva.

planetizen.com

See designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.

See designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.

axios.com

Greening school playgrounds can improve quality of life in cities and help deal with climate change

Adapting urban spaces to tackle climate change through nature-based solutions, especially in school playgrounds and environments, benefits both children and society as a whole. This is one of the main...

flip.it

Designing Streets Through the Lens of Care

Interview with Eduarda Aun, from GDCI. Rethink urban design: and prioritize children's needs to create vibrant, inclusive streets.

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6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026

These U.S. cities are reducing or removing car traffic to make major streets more people-friendly.

planetizen.com

NYC’s Prospect Park is Getting a $68 Million ‘Bluebelt’

The city plans to upgrade the park’s drainage infrastructure to channel more stormwater into its lake and other drainage ponds and reduce flooding risk.

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