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

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

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

Inside Eden Center: What a Strip Mall Can Be

We’ve explored the outside of Fairfax County’s Eden Center before, but what does the inside of this surprisingly fine-grained strip mall look like?

#ChaoticButSmart, Public Space, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJune 27, 2022fine-grained, urbanism, strip malls, Virginia, immigrants, community, Community, shared space, business, small business, local business, Chaotic but Smart, Addison Del Mastro

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.

Neighborhoods, Public Space, Urban Design, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedMarch 31, 2022placemaking, urban design, Neighborhood Design, Neighborhoods, suburban experiment, human scale, walkability, Texas, public space, food trucks, neighborhood revitalization, traditional development pattern

The Artist Date

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller explores the important joy of simply being in public amongst one’s community members.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Public Space, Public Transit, Top StoryKarla TheilenMarch 29, 2022neighborhood storyteller, montana, public space, public transit, coffee shops

Snow Day: Can Your City Pass the Winter Test?

The effects of winter weather on your town is one way to gauge its resilience.

Member Post, Public Space, Suburban Experiment, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 27, 2022snow, Snow, Antifragile, Small Towns, small towns, Texas, New York, natural disasters, public transit, public space

Building Something from Nothing in Utica

This grassroots organization has taken it into their own hands to activate and revitalize their community in Utica, NY.

Community, Public Space, Top StoryArian HorbovetzJanuary 17, 2022New York, bottom-up, community, community development, pop-up, placemaking, revitalization, public space

Placemaking with Places of Worship

Both urban and suburban places of worship have opportunities to stir the recovery of social gathering places in our communities. Here’s how.

Faith, Community, Public Space, Top StorySara Joy ProppeJanuary 13, 2022faith communities, Faith Featured, churches, Sara Joy Proppe, public space, placemaking, creative placemaking

The Vital Pleasure of Existing in Public

How much do people in your community go about their lives in public or in private?

Herriges, Public Space, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJanuary 5, 2022public space, Florida, urbanism, walkability

Cities Are for Older People, Too

Aging in American culture comes with the association of loneliness, dependence, and isolation. If cites were designed differently, this wouldn’t have to be the case.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedSeptember 13, 2021aging, design, urban design, cities

The American Alley, Part 4: Rediscovering the Forgotten Human Scale

There is a human scale that has been forgotten here in America. Here’s how we might be able to reintegrate it into our cities.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top StoryThomas DoughertyAugust 19, 2021American Alleys Series, series, infill, Infill Development, history, History, ADUs, accessory dwelling units

The American Alley, Part 3: The End of the American Alley

Let’s look at how alleys fell out of favor in the American development pattern, and how this relates to zoning codes and ADUs.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top StoryThomas DoughertyAugust 18, 2021American Alleys Series, series, infill, Infill Development, history, History

The American Alley, Part 2: Origins of the American Alley

Looking at the history of the alley reveals not only why they were once so useful, but why they are underutilized in many cities today.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top StoryThomas DoughertyAugust 17, 2021American Alleys Series, series, infill, Infill Development, history, History

The American Alley, Part 1: A Hidden Resource

Overlooked and neglected for too long, it’s time to rediscover the strength-building potential of the American alley.

Public Space, Urban Design, Top StoryThomas DoughertyAugust 16, 2021American Alleys Series, series, infill, Infill Development, history, History

Bad Benches (and Other Park Problems)

Some misguided attempts to enhance the local park in Brainerd, MN, has actually made it a worse place to be.

Podcast, #PlaceIDontWanttoSit, Community, Neighborhoods, Public Space, Urban Design, Top Story, ST PodcastStrong TownsAugust 2, 2021Podcast, neighborhood, Parks, parks, urban design, public space

The Coming Tsunami of Park Infrastructure Needs

Rather than building new parks, it’s time we #DoTheMath on the ones we’ve already got.

#DotheMath, #InfrastructureCrisis, Maintenance, Public Space, Top StoryDoug BatailleJuly 27, 2021#DoTheMath, Parks and Recreation, Parks, parks, public space, maintenance

Delight per Acre

The same design principles behind Japanese gardens can make the building of resilient and financially strong places into a joy, rather than a burden.

Architecture, Herriges, Public Space, Urban Design, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJuly 21, 2021aesthetics, urban design, Value Per Acre, human scale, traditional development pattern, fine-grained, architecture

Anywhere Can Be Somewhere (and Other Walking Lessons)

When it comes to creating strong neighborhoods, there are some valuable lessons to be had from slowing down the pace and seeking novelty in the ordinary.