EngagingCities

Walkability is one of the most important properties of the built environment, and it is enabled by density. Without increasing density, many places would struggle to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use. Increasing density, however, is unpopular among residents, local planning authorities and developers. This is where the economic case for walkability becomes vital - it can empower decision-makers to promote higher density developments. In this article, I explore the key factors we should consider when developing the economic case for walkability. As ever, I would love to hear your thoughts.

🔥 There's only a few spots left for our first EngagingCities Masterminds meeting... register now so you don't miss out! 📅 Date and time: Wednesday, October 30, 12:00 - 1:00pm MDT 💻 Location: Zoom (link will be shared after you register)

😳Witnessing the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in #Naples, FL was both humbling and eye-opening. Walking along the beach, the broken landscapes and uprooted trees 😢served as a stark reminder of how fragile our world is in the face of nature’s forces. These images reflect not just destruction, but the urgent need to rethink how we design, build, and interact with the environment. We stand at a pivotal moment where AI, sustainability, and human-centric design can come together to reshape our future. I believe It’s time to take action by leveraging technology and innovation to create resilient, sustainable communities that are prepared for the unpredictable. Here’s how we can start👇: 👉 Use AI to model and predict environmental impacts—helping us design buildings and communities that can better withstand extreme weather. 👉 Integrate biomimicry in architectural design, drawing on nature’s resilience to inspire adaptable, sustainable structures. 👉 Adopt smart energy systems that remain robust during disasters, ensuring that communities stay powered through renewable, decentralized grids. 👉 Prioritize eco-friendly urban planning, incorporating green spaces and flood defenses into our cities. Let these images inspire you to take meaningful steps toward innovation and environmental stewardship. Read more about the intersection of AI and sustainable design in my latest article👉: https://lnkd.in/eRV5tcs9. #AI #Innovation #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Resilience #DesignThinking #TechForGood #EnvironmentalDesign #HumanCentricDesign #SustainableLiving #GreenTechnology

In today's economic development landscape, placemaking is no longer just a buzzword—it's a necessity, especially for rural communities looking to grow and attract new residents. Whether it's creating vibrant public spaces, promoting local culture and heritage, or leveraging natural assets for outdoor recreation, effective placemaking can transform small towns into thriving hubs of activity and opportunity. In my latest article, I explore the types of placemaking programs that can have the biggest impact on rural areas and how communities can implement them successfully. From community gathering spaces and agri-tourism to downtown revitalization and outdoor recreation, there are countless ways to turn a town's unique assets into powerful tools for growth. Curious about how smaller communities can take advantage of these strategies and what they can do to overcome common challenges? Check out the full article to learn more about the power of placemaking and how it can help rural America thrive! #ruralgrowthstrategies #growingruralAmerica #placemakingisnotabuzzword Kathryn (Katie) Harrington Rob O'Brian, CEcD David Gaines, MEDP Paige Webster, CEcD

👶If you could experience the city from 95cm–the height of a 3-year-old–what would you change? Our urban spaces often fail to meet the needs of children, caregivers, and pregnant women. ➡️Sharing this great resource: “The Proximity of Care Design Guide” from the Van Leer Foundation and Arup, which provides actionable insights to create spaces that truly support our youngest residents and their families. 🛠️The guide offers tips, tools and tailored advice for city officials, developers, built environment professionals, and early childhood development practitioners to design urban spaces that meet the needs of children and families while fostering and encouraging healthy caregiving practices and behaviours. Child-Friendly Design Matters, as it helps to: 🍎Improve Health & Wellbeing: More green spaces and child-friendly infrastructure promote physical activity, reduce stress, and support overall health. 💼 Boost Local Economy: Child and caregiver-friendly areas attract local businesses and signal that an area is clean, safe, and welcoming. 🚸 Enhance Safety: Busy, child-friendly areas become safer and cleaner, addressing both physical and psychological barriers. 🤝 Strengthen Communities: Inclusive spaces foster social interaction and build a sense of community. 🌿 Connect People with Nature: Integrating nature into urban design enhances health and addresses age-related inequalities. 🌍 Increase Climate Resilience: Child-friendly principles can improve climate resilience with adaptable green spaces and sustainable infrastructure. --- The guide’s 10 guiding principles to keep child-centred design a priority throughout: 🗣️ 1. Ensure meaningful engagement, ongoing communication with the community throughout the project 🤲 2. Engage with and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders 📍 3. Value and localize existing resources, skills and patterns 🛡️ 4. Build health, support, stimulation and protection at different scales 🏘️ 5. Derive multiple benefits from everyday spaces 🎠 6. Embed play and learning into spaces, infrastructure and mobility networks 🌱 7. Connect children with nature 🌟 8. Build positive behaviour change 📊 9. Measure the social, environmental and commercial impact 🗺️ 10. Advocate for child-friendly approaches When a neighbourhood works well for young children, their caregivers and pregnant women, the entire community thrives. Agree? Check out the Proximity of Care Design Guide here: https://lnkd.in/gEcjPU4A #UrbanEquity #SustainableCities #ChildFriendlyDesign #InclusiveUrbanPlanning Sara Candiracci Cities4Children - The Global Alliance Natalia Krysiak

Moment-making. This is one of the most important roles we play when working with cities, towns, districts or main streets. Orchestrating experiences that endear people to one another and to a place is foundational to fostering innovative, collaborative, economically thriving cities. Want talent? Want investment? Invest in programming. Of my entire career creating place-based experiences for innovation districts, cultural spaces, downtowns, streets and what have you - this moment where we invited the public to collectively parade this life-sized sperm whale around is one of my all-time favourites. And did it tick up vibrancy and sense of community? It sure did. #placemaking #urbaninnovation #citiesforpeople #downtownrevitalization