Public space Place

PLACEMAKER Project for Public Space

That's P L A C E MAKER, not PEACEMAKER, nor PACEMAKER. PPS is helping to develop the design of vital public spaces via research, education, and partnership, with the mission to create and sustain public places that build communities. Nine project areas: parks, transportation, markets, downtowns, civic centers, multi-use, campuses, squares, and waterfronts. When was the last time you had fun in such an area?

STREET FESTIVAL Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá is a big city, the capital of Colombia. Apparently, every year, 56,000 accidents and 900 deaths occur every year via notoriously bad traffic and congestion. In response, the city has set up a massive, weekly street festival called Ciclovia. Every Sunday, 70 miles of main streets are closed off from 7AM - 2PM for pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters. The city even hosts free exercise classes on aerobics, zumba, and stretching to encourage families to exercise. This simple solution is able to address a whole slew of urban problems all at once: obesity, high stress, unsafe streets, social isolation and fragmentation, pollution, etc. Genius. Cities around the world have adopted similar festivals. Oakland had its first one in June, called Oaklavia, and Los Angeles had its first one last month, called CicLAvia.

VIDEO StreetFilms.org

Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

"Documenting livable streets worldwide." See what's going on in the world's major cities! Reminds me of Jane Jacobs, who wrote "The Life and Death of Great American Cities." She was a non-academic writer, considered one of the most influential thinkers in modern day urban planning. I like her! <3