NEW: When nurturing, healing and care happen in public spaces, people benefit and communities become stronger as a more hopeful, connected society. Read our latest Medium article to see how public spaces around the country are supporting our mental and physical well-being. tinyurl.com/yktju72e

NEW: In difficult national times, local efforts can shine. Cincinnati's local orgs are investing in public space for their communities – even as the fed government pulls back from their projects. See 5 takeaways from our Civic Commons Studio #10: Local Power, Lasting Impact: tinyurl.com/22pfrxc4

1/ In new @99percentinvisible.bsky.social episode about kids and urbanism, @langealexandra.bsky.social calls out Philly's Anna C. Verna Playground at FDR Park as welcoming to all kids including teens - especially the 20-seat swing set:

Today’s libraries are becoming engines of civic life, drawing and connecting people and communities together. The Memphis library system is going further, turning its branches into creative hubs through its Innovator-in-Residence program. Read our latest article to learn more: tinyurl.com/4cxu33f2

Long white benches with seating for 700 people unfurl and wind through London’s Strand district like snowy serpents – showing how using thoughtful high-quality design in public space provides not only seating, but also creates areas for performance, gathering and art. www.dezeen.com/2025/11/04/u...

@civiccommonsus.bsky.social's Bridget Marquis tells @lisabubert.bsky.social why we need civic spaces: “to serve as literal common ground in our communities to counter both loneliness & socioeconomic segregation” -- including at karaoke bars, bowling alleys and churches. tinyurl.com/mvx8sby2

In Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's 3rd term, he needs to “support a just built environment” with housing, transit and open space, says Paul Bauknight, Civic Commons co-convener for the Twin Cities. “The city’s physical development will show us what we truly value as a society." tinyurl.com/2469pjah

When a new park opened near a Lexington cafe, business picked up - as did the area's vibe. "More people walk by the shop and just say ‘hi’ as if we're neighbors," the owner said. High-quality public spaces benefit small businesses' bottom line and their bonds with communities. tinyurl.com/42sek9aa

New research finds that people who feel belonging and a sense of purpose in community — even more than family & religious ties — seem to age more slowly on molecular level. "Social capital...might work the same way as cellular capital, influencing how long (& how) well we live.” tinyurl.com/2nudfb98

KUDOS to Carol Coletta, a force behind @civiccommonsus.bsky.social! She has received 2025 ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development for commitment to public space. "I have this heart for public life, because I do believe it forges community in ways that nothing else does." tinyurl.com/2a3tz4xp

🎃 On Halloween we see our streets become welcoming, making Oct. 31 one of the few mainstream holidays rooted in our shared civic realm. That’s why it feels so transformative: it turns the everyday stage of neighborhood life into a collective exercise in connection. Read more: tinyurl.com/bdxznejk

medium.com/reimagining-... Halloween is special: We stay out after dark, we open our doors, and we invite children to take candy from strangers. The activity spills onto streets, making it one of the few holidays rooted in our shared civic realm. That’s why it feels so transformative.

HUGE congrats to Tonika Johnson for the MacArthur "Genius" Grant, for the "exceptional creativity" in her social justice advocacy and artwork! She spoke with Bronlynn Thurman at our 2023 Macon Studio about her Folded Map Project – take a look at their conversation: tinyurl.com/mr2axmdm

On Strawberry Mansion CDC's work on Coltrane House: “To have had so much taken away from us and so much disinvestment, to see this revitalization here—and not only to see it but to be part of it and have ownership in it—that’s what I celebrate,” Tonnetta Graham told @whyy.org. tinyurl.com/mt29hbek

An early @civiccommonsus.bsky.social project, this vacant Chicago school became arts incubator bc of artist Theaster Gates. "There’s this illusion...that we don’t deserve great and significant things,” he said. “We never needed a perfect space. We just needed one that was ours.” tinyurl.com/msudbkm5

NEW: Akron's downtown is small – but has a big impact on local economy & culture and is focus for the city's rebranding as a "welcoming place for all people," said a city official. "The downtown is probably where that heart beats the loudest.” More on downtown Akron's rebirth: tinyurl.com/37x2k7jt

Atlanta planners built Cook Park as a public park – and as climate infrastructure to capture stormwater, according to @nytimes.com. Similarly, Singapore's Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was created when a drainage ditch was replaced with meandering waterways evoking streams. Read: tinyurl.com/5vdskjwy

When turning a road into pedestrian space, Stockholm planners framed the idea as temporary pop-ups to ease concerns from car-owners, who were won over by the charming parklets. The # of participating streets started with 2 in 2015 – to now more than 40 streets every summer. tinyurl.com/4e7w6tfc

A kayak kiosk on the creek – it's not a tongue twister, it's the newest amenity on Mill Creek in Cincinnati. The city’s first kayak rental operation is another opportunity for people to connect to nature and see Cincinnati's public spaces from a different angle. www.wvxu.org/local-news/2...

NEW: Around the world, cities are being adaptive and resilient in the face of climate change. In our latest article, we look at examples where communities are working to mitigate environmental decline – from building green infrastructure to encouraging social connection. Read: tinyurl.com/4244vrev

Plans for Georgia’s potential first national park are moving forward! Meetings about the proposed Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve start this week around Macon-Bibb, Houston and Twiggs counties and a virtual meeting later this month - see www.ocmulgeepark.org/strategicplan for details

As climate change drives more severe weather and natural disasters, how can cities prepare for recovery? Research shows communities with robust social infrastructure – like parks and cafes – had better recovery compared to more traditional infrastructure. READ: tinyurl.com/5vdskjwy #climateweeknyc

Newly revamped Phoenix Park in Lexington forms the middle of trio of showcase parks, says Councilmember Hannah LeGris – showing importance of shared amenities. "It's more than just a public space," she said. "It's an investment in a stronger, safer and more connected downtown." tinyurl.com/ykvd4k5r

High-quality public spaces like parks and playgrounds are popular and supported by a wide range of Americans – and they offer great bang for your buck as well. In Philly, officials said nearly $100 in economic value was created for every dollar spent on park maintenance. MORE: tinyurl.com/mr2py6h4

NEW: Investing with Intention: Environmental Sustainability is now available. Public spaces can be powerful climate infrastructure & help cool overheated cities, absorb stormwater & strengthen social ties critical to resilience. Read the report as we head into #ClimateWeekNYC. tinyurl.com/5vdskjwy

Ingredients for great playgrounds? Studio Ludo's quick guide says factors like trees for shade, residential location within walkable or bikeable distance, clean restrooms and lots of different heights to climb make for a fun experience for everyone, no matter the age. tinyurl.com/23kxey3n

Akron legend & Civic Commons champion Daniel Rice is retiring in 2026 from Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. Dan has been a civic commons believer since the earliest days and has left an indelible mark on Akron and the entire national network. 🎉 to his retirement. www.yourohionews.com/tuscarawas-c...

NEW: From city playgrounds to national parks to libraries, Americans love high-quality, well-run public spaces – and they will vote for and rally to support them. Our new article looks at the demand for a robust public realm that's well-resourced and maintained. Read: medium.com/reimagining-...

Today is International Day of Democracy and an apt time to revisit this piece about why public spaces are vital for the common good – as Shawn McCaney of William Penn Foundation said, “Cities are the true laboratories of democracy." medium.com/reimagining-...

The Kresge Foundation HQ is returning to Detroit on Marygrove campus, w/ $180M in home ownership & stabilization, biz district renewal, public space upgrades & support for Fitzgerald, Bagley, Univ. District & Martin Park people + biz. 🎉 for philanthropy aiding convener Live6 Alliance & partners!

Disney World can cost $$$ - and you can pay more to cut lines for rides. "The market, and increasingly the culture, is dominated by the affluent," writes Dan Currell. "Technology is enabling companies to see these previously invisible class divides and act on them." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/o...

Lock 3 Park in Akron has drawn bands & crowds & boosted local economy as visitors spend $. "I gotta tell you, it feels so good just to see people come back down here, walk around,” singer Rachel Roberts told @news5cleveland.bsky.social. “I see big smiles on people's faces." tinyurl.com/4afemzc2

The 3rd annual Tour de Crown hosted by local @civiccommonsus.bsky.social convener Tri-State Trails last month was a big success, with 700+ riders sharing the vision of the 34-mile trail project which will eventually form a seamless network around Cincinnati. 🚴🚴 www.wlwt.com/article/cinc...

Our Learning Journey to St. Paul revealed a city filled with people who are deeply proud of their roots and building bridges between generations and communities for a stronger social fabric and a brighter future. Four insights we observed for the field: medium.com/reimagining-...

“Do something people want to do, and you can sneak engagement in on the side,” Richard Young of CivicLex told the Chronicle of Philanthropy for a recent piece highlighting their extensive and innovative public outreach efforts. Bravo to the CivicLex team! www.philanthropy.com/commons/new-...

A new study by prof. Miles Richardson finds that human connection to nature - as measured through references to the natural world in books from 1800 to 2020 - has declined by 60% in 200 years - another reason why nature-rich public realm is so important. Read: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

“The pandemic isolated us from each other and social media and cultural schisms continue to divide us — forces that have given the togetherness of the Schuylkill Banks this summer an almost utopian feel” - Peter Dobrin on connections forged on the trail's new pedestrian bridge tinyurl.com/2d9dcwpj

Alissa Walker writes that LA needs to institute capital infrastructure plans to prepare for the immediate future and beyond. In the midst of turmoil, "what Angelenos need right now, more than ever, is a commitment to the spaces that we share with each other." Read: www.torched.la/civic-promise/

The Conversation has a fascinating look by Northeastern's Dan O'Brien at how one area can be 10° F hotter than another place a few blocks away – and to consider if our public spaces are a solution for urban heat with ample trees, shade, water and other greenery. theconversation.com/inside-an-ur...

Governing profiles Akron's revitalization, where Civic Commons partners are "using public-space investments to promote social cohesion." Knight Foundation's Kyle Kutuchief said when people get to know Akron, “the more they see, the more they’re gonna fall in love with it.” Read: tinyurl.com/mr25d4zu

A city needs vibrant cultural & community identities – but what are the bases of those identities? In St. Paul MN, local excellence & quality assets bolster local pride. Read 4 takeaways, where talent is nurtured, families put down roots, and pride in local identity is evident. tinyurl.com/bdeauu4c

Your weekend read in The Independent: “Get out of your car if you want to be less lonely” A new UK study found that people who depended on cars were more likely to feel disconnected than those with access to good public transport. More: tinyurl.com/4up6579z

Planning trends that favored isolation and fragmentation eroded American democracy, Ellery Ammons and Tarsi Dunlop wrote in @nextcity.org. Now, they're calling for urban planners to reinvest in "social cohesion, civic engagement and collective decision-making." Read: nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

“In many cases, we’ve failed to adequately support pieces of our social infrastructure, from public transportation to parks...or have let them become synonymous with social disorder," wrote Diana Lind in @washingtonpost.com. "Staying in has become the seemingly rational choice." tinyurl.com/3a9c5n33

Big cities with large populations see fewer cross-class interactions than smaller locales, Stanford prof. David Grusky and his team found. Our new article "Big City, Less Mixing" looks at the surprising reasons for this — and how to encourage more socioeconomic mixing. medium.com/reimagining-...

Shared public space and nature can unite Americans. A diverse, bipartisan group of pols wants Congress to make Ocmulgee Mounds a national park, writes 2 county officials in the @ajc.com. “Such unity is increasingly rare and reflects the wide-reaching value of this proposal.” tinyurl.com/ynnjnd9m

Teens working on Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram's Garden have found a refuge in the space – and with each other. @greenphilly.bsky.social reports the teens say “after dealing with hard situations, [Sankofa] definitely helps me manage stress.” Teens need places to connect! tinyurl.com/4bapecph

"Children want to meet up in person, no screens or supervision. But because so many parents restrict their ability to socialize in the real world on their own, kids resort to the one thing that allows them to hang out with no adults hovering: their phones" - @theatlantic.com. tinyurl.com/56bj3b3u

Protecting public space is essential for democracy, writes Shawn McCaney in @nextcity.org op-ed. "Our Founding Fathers knew that public space to openly debate the people’s business was critical to self-government and the health of our democracy. Let’s not let them down." More: tinyurl.com/2erfw9fj

"Smaller spaces...can play a role in creating the pockets of close proximity and human connection that research shows boosts mental and physical health and wards off social isolation." Read our latest Medium article "Small is Beautiful" about tiny parts of our public space: tinyurl.com/4ha3uuh7