A new study published in the journal Social Science Research finds that people in the United States report greater levels of happiness in states that spend more money on public goods such as parks, libraries, infrastructure, and public safety. The author, Patrick Flavin, notes that the happiness boost from public-goods spending is roughly the same across a wide range of demographic variables: race, income, education, etc. suggesting public spending on categories accessible to everyone has an effect on the well-being of everyone.

In the public realm, zoning elicits a range of reactions across cities, and Charlottesville is no different. Existing zoning restrictions have made the city’s tight housing market even tighter, and there’s fear within lower income communities that denser zoning will greatly increase gentrification and displacement.

Visions to transform the downtown waterfront of Seattle moved one step closer to reality. Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the city had negotiated with downtown property owners who threatened to block the location-specific tax.

The neighborhood surrounding the park is considered a “food desert,” where fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables are hard to come by. Combining public space with edible gardens, the Bronx River Foodway might be the future of public park design.

Extraordinary levels of public-private investment in parks, greenways and public spaces will continue to provide far-reaching benefits affecting the way people live, work, play and travel.

High-impact design was a recurring theme for parks that opened in 2018, and so was the hope that parks can unite and invigorate cities. Tulsa’s Gathering Place, Toronto’s Bentway, and Detroit’s Riverfront Conservancy are all being transformed into green spaces exhibiting the latest in equitable and resilient design.

Is it possible to design a more fair, more equitable country? Across the U.S. new perspectives are emerging, centered on food-oriented design, the legacy of public monuments, and how architects address equity in their work.

Urban Engineers, the group behind the Rail Park, announced that they’ve won the 2018 award for Outstanding Engineering Achievement from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers’ Philly Chapter.

The Urban Land Institute’s 2018 Annual Report compiles fascinating stories from around the world that focus on building healthy communities, addressing homelessness, cutting carbon emissions, and sharing best practices in design and development.

Most cities have not been designed with women’s safety in mind but, from Egypt to Rwanda, new technology, design, and education are reducing the threat of violence on the street.