Percent for Place. Project for Public Spaces signed on to a letter calling for a small percentage of federal infrastructure funding to be dedicated to civic infrastructure. Reliable ongoing funding is a crucial and under-appreciated factor in successful placemaking, so we hope you'll join us. (Reimagining the Civic Commons ) Adaptations to Climate Change. A report from the Climate Impact Lab predicts that "the annual mortality rate at the end of this century could rise by 73 deaths per 100,000 people solely from excess heat." But cities vulnerable to the urban heat island effect can take action now by building green parking lots and planting more trees along sidewalks, among other strategies. (Bloomberg ) Making History in Public Space. The first-ever National Monument Audit, with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, researched almost 50,000 monuments in the United States for insight into the country's commemorative landscape. The report reveals that only 1% of the monuments reference slavery and recommends that we "engage in a holistic reckoning with monumental erasures and lies and move toward a monument landscape that acknowledges a fuller history of this country." (The Mellon Foundation ) The Mellon Foundation also recently announced its Humanities in Place initiative, which has dedicated $15 million to bringing more voices and experiences to public space. (The Mellon Foundation ) Inclusive Year-Round Public Spaces. 8 80 Cities and AARP launched two new guidebooks this week focused on creating more inclusive and healthy year-round public spaces, including projects and principles from Project for Public Spaces. Their new “Winter Placemaking Guide” offers creative "lighter, quicker, cheaper" ideas for any budget. (8 80 Cities ) Meanwhile, “Addressing Homelessness in Parks: An Inclusive Practices Guide” addresses the root causes of chronic homelessness and advocates for a park management approach that centers on human rights and housing, featuring our local partners at Woodruff Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (8 80 Cities ) |
|