The annual transformation of riverbanks to beaches has begun in Paris, where the River Seine becomes a widely visited outdoor public space known as Paris Plages.
"It is pure hedonism to want to transform a capital city into a seaside resort, bringing 2,000 tons of sand by boat, displaying more than a thousand deckchairs on its river banks, loaning 85 boats for people to sail for free, planting 950 trees in a single square and building 61 beach cabins on what is, for 335 days of the year, an expressway."
"The scheme has been expanded this summer to include more free activities, more palm trees, more concerts, more sand and more bamboo forest; and is about to be launched in many new Parisian locations."
"Aside from its original location on the Right Bank, from Pont Henri IV to Quai du Louvre, this year sand and entertainment can also be found in waterside spaces in the north-east of the French capital, along the three canals that lead up to the Villette basin, and from La Villette into various suburban towns."
"Paris Plages started life as a socialist fantasy: bring the beaches to those who can't afford summer holidays and create a bit of joie de vivre for the millions of tourists who make Paris the most visited city in the world."
FULL STORY: Sun, Seine and sand
Paris to the People
Angelique Chrisafis delivers the fantastic news that, after more than four decades of auto dominance, Paris is returning its riverfront to its people in a "pedestrian 'reconquest' of the banks of the Seine."
Battle Over Closure of Paris Expressways
A political battle is brewing in Paris, where the city's mayor wants to close off sections of roadway along the River Seine, a move that President Nicholas Sarkozy is against.
River Seine ‘Teeming’ With Life
Decades of restoration efforts are yielding positive results as dozens of species of fish return to the once-polluted waterway.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service