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This Week's Highlights:
September 25 - October 1, 2017
- The powerful earthquake in Mexico City on September 19—which shut down power, created gridlock traffic, and drove millions of people out of buildings and into public spaces—brought into clear focus the importance of the city’s public parks and squares. In the Condesa neighborhood, residents quickly gathered in the Foro Lindbergh section of Parque México—a public space that is near and dear to our hearts at PPS—and within hours, it became an essential hub for an entirely citizen-led relief effort. “We cannot always prevent or predict the next adversity that a community will face,” writes Philip Winn in describing the powerful scene at the Foro, “but by investing in our public spaces, we sow seeds of resiliency for the challenges to come.”
- In thinking about the important role that parks play in a community, a thoughtful look at what our public spaces may stand to lose when cities rely too heavily on private donors. Using NYC examples like the space fronting the Met, the Highline, and the "new" Washington Square Park, Thomas de Monchaux explains that when private and corporate investments wholly dictate the design and management of public spaces, we risk ending up with “sterile, controlled environments” rather than the unplanned, pleasantly chaotic and user-determined places that are the heart of urban life.
- This week we lost a great friend, ally, and food policy hero, Gus Schumacher. It is hard to find words that can truly express what Gus and his tireless work has meant to us at PPS. For over 30 years, Gus has been instrumental to our public markets program, and his passion for food justice will live on through the many people and organizations he has mentored over the years. “Gus leaves an immeasurable legacy,” Michel Nischan writes in this Wholesome Wave tribute, “his vision and work improved the lives of untold numbers of farmers and farms of all sizes, and eaters of all incomes. The world is a far better place because of him.”
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More Placemaking Stories & Ideas
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Events and Opportunities
- Conference: Place Invaders - Kitchen Table Conference (Adelaide, AUS, October 6, 2017)
- Conference: "Black in Design: Designing Resistance, Building Coalitions," Harvard Graduate School of Design (Cambridge, MA, October 6-8, 2017)
- Conference: Green Building Convention 2017 (Cape Town, South Africa, October 9-11, 2017)
- Conference: Placemaking Week 2017 in Amsterdam (October 10-14, 2017)
- RFI: Aspen Mobility Lab (Deadline: October 13, 2017)
- Conference: World Urban Parks European Congress 2017 (Wirral, UK, October 16-19, 2017)
- Conference: ACT Canada Sustainable Mobility Summit 2017 (Region of Peel, CAN, October 29-November 1, 2017)
- Conference: Placemaking LatinoAmérica (November 6-9, 2017)
- Conference: UN-Habitat World Urban Forum, Cities 2030 (Kuala Lumpur, February 7-13)
Instagram of the Week
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 Ribeira-Rio Douro (Douro River)
The Porto waterfront, showing how different widths allow various activities to create the "Power of 10"—10 places within one great destination. Be sure to check out Fred Kent's Instagram shots at pps_placemaking. |
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| Have something to share? Please send your placemaking stories, news, job openings, grants, awards, calls for proposals, and events to [email protected] today. We'll be sure to give you a tip of the hat. |
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