Green Space

Aerial view of Overlook Walk cap park over former Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle’s New Overlook Walk Offers Ample Park Space Near Pike Place Market

The elevated park and event space replaces part of the demolished Alaskan Way Viaduct, connecting the city’s famous Pike Place Market to the waterfront.

October 15, 2024 - The Urbanist

People running and cycling on wide paved path next to water with Singapore skyline with high-rises in background.

Singapore: A Model for Longevity and Quality of Life

Singapore's remarkable rise in life expectancy, driven by government policies on health, green spaces, and social cohesion, has earned it the distinction of being named the world's sixth “Blue Zone.”

October 14, 2024 - BBC

Flock of white snow geese flying and resting in water in Sacramento River delta at sunset.

California Secures $360 Million in Federal Funding for Parks, Habitat Restoration, and Clean Transportation

This funding will drive transformative projects across the state, improving access to green spaces, protecting natural ecosystems, and advancing sustainable transportation initiatives.

October 7, 2024 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

City park with paved walkway, green trees, and people sitting on lawn.

New Study Shows How Urban Trees Improve Public Health

Louisville's Green Heart project demonstrates that strategically planting trees in underserved neighborhoods can significantly reduce inflammation levels, highlighting the health benefits of urban greenery through a novel, data-driven approach.

September 16, 2024 - Bloomberg

City park with paved walkway, green trees, and people sitting on lawn.

Advancing Sustainability and Resilience Through Parks

The Urban Land Institute offers fact sheets describing five innovative ways that parks can reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate threats while advancing health, equity, and quality of life in urban areas.

July 31, 2024 - Urban Land Institute

Gravel walkway along lake at Earvin Magic Johnson Park in Los Angeles County.

‘Parks After Dark’ Helps LA County Communities Thrive

Los Angeles County's popular Parks After Dark program continues to serve communities in need and offer multiple important benefits, as documented in a recent UCLA study.

June 13, 2024 - UCLA Newsroom

Tree lined residential street in the historic West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York City.

Sibling Study Highlights Impact of Green Neighborhoods on Public Health

More evidence that access to green spaces and walkable communities improve public health outcomes.

May 26, 2024 - University of Maryland

Rolling green hills in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles

Regenerating and Healing Land Through Parks

Through thoughtful planning and restoration efforts, parks can help heal degraded land, meeting multiple community needs, improving soil quality, restoring native vegetation, and creating habitats for wildlife.

May 20, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Close-up on young tree planted on urban median flanked by a sidewalk and a bike lane.

Planting Trees Where They are Most Needed

Recently, the U.S. Forest Service awarded over $1 billion in competitive grants to expand equitable access to trees and their benefits. Grantees include Los Angeles County and TreePeople, who are working to plant trees where they are most needed.

May 7, 2024 - United States Forest Service

Green hills with orange California poppies in bloom in foreground in Chino Hills State Park, California.

Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient

A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.

April 22, 2024 - Spectrum News 1

Purple jacaranda trees in bloom in Los Angeles with tall white Art Deco buildings in background.

LA County Releases Draft Community Forest Management Plan

LA County's Chief Sustainability Office just released the discussion draft of Room to Grow, the first Community Forest Management Plan for the county.

April 21, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Overhead view of young children looking at plants growing in raised planter box.

Creating More Green Schoolyards in Los Angeles

Led by the Trust for Public Land, the “28×28” Initiative seeks to green 28 schools in Los Angeles by the 2028 Olympics.

February 27, 2024 - Spectrum News 1

View of small pedestrian bridge in Prescott Preserve Palm Springs, California with palm tree oasis and mountains in background.

Rewilding the Golf Course

How former golf courses are being transformed from manicured lawns to vibrant habitats.

February 26, 2024 - The New York Times

View of downtown Los Angeles from elevated hillside with palm trees in foreground and pink sky.

Planning for Trees in Los Angeles

The County and City of Los Angeles are working together on community engagement efforts for their Urban Forest Management Plans (UFMPs).

February 21, 2024 - LAist

Pink flowers in bloom in front of wood gazebo/pavilion in Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles.

The Importance of Botanical Gardens

Southern California is home to some of the best botanical gardens around. TimeOut just released its list of the top Japanese and botanical gardens, mansion and institution gardens, and urban and hidden gardens.

February 20, 2024 - TimeOut

View of green meadow with people and fall-colored trees in Central Park with Manhattan buildings in background.

Applying Trauma-Informed Design to Cities

How trauma-informed urbanism can make cities and their residents healthier and more resilient.

January 3, 2024 - Fast Company

Red picnic benches in lush forested area in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California.

Healing Neighborhoods Through Park Equity

Learn more about ways to improve park equity with Norma García-González, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Catherine Nagel, the executive director of the City Parks Alliance.

December 6, 2023 - Resources Radio

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3, 2023 - American Heart Association News

People walking and biking on protected bike lane in Tenderloin District, San Francisco.

Tenderloin Greenway Closer to Reality

The Golden Gate Greenway will provide much-needed permanent park and community space in the dense neighborhood.

November 16, 2023 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Green trees reflected in high-rise skyscrapers.

Urban Design for Sustainability

The way we build cities can have significant impacts on public health and equity.

November 16, 2023 - Colorado Newsline

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.