Oftentimes, people in rural settings drive long distances to bigger towns to find community engagement. This renovated soda fountain shop shows why it’s worth looking for that sense of community a little closer to home.

Public Space, Community, Top Story, Community StoriesSeairra SheppardMarch 30, 2023Wyoming, rural, Small Towns, small towns, community, Third Places, restaurants, coffee shops, public space

Flushing Success Down the Toilet

This public toilet in Winnipeg, MB, is a case study in why city governments need to pay attention to the power of small bets.

Local Government, Transparent Accounting, Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodMarch 24, 2023city government, canada, Canada, public space, homelessness, Homelessness, small bets, little bets, local government, Transparent Local Accounting

Sweat the Small Stuff

Your city’s long-term resilience requires paying attention to the little things.

Infrastructure, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedMarch 7, 2023maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, small, public investment, little bets, Infrastructure, infrastructure, public space

Pocket Parks: A Small Bet That Makes a Big Difference

This nonprofit is transforming pockets of St. Louis, MO, into delightful and welcoming parks—and at a low cost!

Top Story, Community StoriesSeairra SheppardFebruary 28, 2023public space, Third Places, Parks, parks, small bets, little bets, nonprofit sector, missouri, Missouri

Social Infrastructure: The Real Investment Our Cities Need

Too often, cities invest in the storage and movement of cars rather than the movement, visibility, and interactions of human beings. But the latter is precisely what makes for communities that are worth caring about.

OwensTiffany Owens ReedFebruary 28, 2023community, Community, community site, public space, public safety, Public Safety, Safety, safety, Third Places

Church Members Propose Urban Village for Congregation

Parishioners of a historic church in Detroit want to develop eight vacant blocks with missing-middle housing to build a church-centered community.

Incremental Housing, CNU, News, Top StoryRobert SteutevilleJanuary 27, 2023faith communities, Religion, religion, churches, Michigan, public space, community, Community, Incremental Housing

Not a Stranger, Not a Friend: The Second-Ring Relationships Our Cities Need More Of

Relationships with neighbors once made up an important part of our social fabric, forming the basis for civic collaboration and local problem solving. Here’s how we can get those relationships back.

Community, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedDecember 6, 2022community, Community, public space, neighborliness, Texas, coffee shops

Want To See the World’s Best Library of 2022? Look No Further!

Public spaces are an important investment, and as an example of a public space done right, look no further than Missoula, MT, which is home to the world’s best public library of 2022.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Public Space, Top StoryKarla TheilenOctober 9, 2022neighborhood storyteller, libraries, public space, children

Strongest Town Contest Sister Cities Come Together

Representatives from Norwood, OH, went to visit their counterparts in Jasper, IN, after facing off in this year’s Strongest Town Contest. Here’s 7 reasons the Norwoodians found Jasper to be a worthy champion!

Strongest Town Contest, Top StoryAlisha Loch and Mary C MillerAugust 18, 2022Strongest Town Competition, Strongest Town Winner, Strongest Town 2022, Jasper IN, Ohio, Indiana, community, Community, public space, public investment

Roosevelt Plaza: A Small Space With Big Impact

When designed right, even small patches of public space can bring a lot of charm to a community!

Urban Design, Public Space, Top StoryArian HorbovetzJuly 29, 2022public space, urban design, design, Buffalo NY, New York State

City Pattern, Life Pattern

Question: “Why don’t people dance in the street today?” Answer: Because the design of our cities shapes the design of our lives.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedJuly 28, 2022Street Design, design, urban design, development pattern, public space, neighborhood, community, Community, car culture

"Streets Closed to Vehicular Traffic"

Downtown Leesburg, Virginia, goes car free for one weekend.

Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 19, 2022walkability, Small Towns, small towns, Virginia, car-lite, public space, Addison Del Mastro

Modern Urban Planning Is Inside Out

Today, city planning departments obsess over what happens inside buildings but pay scant attention to the quality of the space outside them.

Urban Design, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJuly 6, 2022urban design, urban planning, Parks, parks, public space, planning process, Privatization, Florida, design, Development, development

Laundromat Urbanism

A simple laundromat offers an unexpected reminder of the role urban design has to play in making us feel more connected with the people around us.

Community, Top StoryArian HorbovetzJune 13, 2022Social Isolation, urbanism, community, community site, public space, local business, New York State

In Hospitable Cities, You’re Welcomed by Design

Some neighborhoods can feel downright hostile, especially to outsiders. But many places have become this way due to inhospitable design, not inhospitable people.