Better Blocks Dallas shows just what can happen when people get together with a few really great ideas and some manpower, to inspire their local communities and local governments to make change happen in their neighborhoods. This project was coordinated by collaborative called StreetSpace that does Better Block Projects all over the country. Brown & Keener and WRT have teamed up with SOSNA and members of the community to make this happen here. Get excited!
Check out some of these great ideas!
Placemaking for Communities
Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Our pioneering Placemaking approach helps citizens transform their public spaces into vital places that highlight local assets, spur rejuvenation and serve common needs.
PPS was founded in 1975 to expand on the work of William (Holly) Whyte, the author of The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. Since then, we have completed projects in over 2500 communities in 40 countries and all 50 US states. Partnering with public and private organizations, federal, state and municipal agencies, business improvement districts, neighborhood associations and other civic groups, we improve communities by fostering successful public spaces.
In addition to leading projects in our nine program areas, PPS also trains more than 10,000 people every year and reaches countless more through our websites and publications. PPS has become an internationally recognized center for resources, tools and inspiration about Placemaking.
Through research, conferences, and strategic partnerships, PPS promotes Placemaking as a transformative agenda to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. Our newest collaboration is with the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) which becomes a resident program of PPS as of June 1, 2011. NCBW is guided by the conviction that a balanced transportation system makes for healthier individuals and communities.
In its broadest application, Placemaking is a catalyst for building healthy, sustainable and economically viable cities of the future.
INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE: GARY TOTH
Gary Toth has helped communities, environmental interests and transportation agencies collaborate during his 38 year career as a transportation engineer. He helped the New Jersey Department of Transportation establish a sustainable and community orientation, highlighted by the establishment of Context Sensitive Solutions and NJ Future in Transportation programs. The latter fostered healthy living and sustainable communities via integration of transportation and land use.
Since 2007, Gary has advanced place and community based transportation as Senior Director of Transportation Initiatives for the Project for Public Spaces. He also is cofounder of the multi NGO Partnership for Livable Transportation Solutions. He has done extensive work in Community Based Street and Network Planning and Design and has helped communities such as New York City, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Brunswick Maine rethink their approach to transportation. He remains involved with several national initiatives, such as the Strategic Highway Research Program, the American Public Transit Association and the Congress for New Urbanism. He is one of seven instructors certified to lead the National Highway Institute’s Transportation and Land Use Course. He is one of the leading experts in the country on what “makes DOTs tick”, and how to engage the transportation planning, funding, project development and design processes to achieve sustainable and livable outcomes.
INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE: CANDY CHANG
The work of Candy Change has been some really great inspiration for us at BetterBlocksPhilly. Her projects are so fun! Great ways to get people involved and inspired about their neighborhoods.
“Candy Chang likes to make cities more comfortable for people. She is a public installation artist, designer, urban planner, TED Fellow, and co-founder of Civic Center. Enjoy her projects here.” – http://www.candychang.com
