This is a guest post by Suzanne Nienaber of the Center for Active Design. Over the summer, the Center for Active Design (CfAD) introduced the Assembly Civic Engagement Survey (ACES), a groundbreaking study examining the relationship between place-based design and civic engagement. Through the CitiesSpeak blog series, we highlighted 5 key design strategies to support civic life,
The NLC Service Line Warranty Program is proud to work with and showcase cities who show dedication to inclusive values. The City of Orem has partnered with the NLC Service Line Warranty Program to offer homeowners optional warranties for their water and sewer service lines since 2016. The All-Together playground in Orem, UT is Utah County’s
Here’s how the city is partnering with several groups and organizations to create equitable access to nature programming for its youth. This is a guest post by Tracy Muckey. This spring, Yolanda and three of her children joined a YMCA of San Francisco Family Camp in the Marin Headlands, a national park located on a
Happy Independence Day! At the National League of Cities (NLC), we’re proud to represent all 16,000 of America’s cities, towns, villages, hamlets and communities. It’s our belief that every city matters and deserves to have a voice — regardless of size, location, or history. That’s why throughout June we’ve celebrated Small Cities Month, highlighting our
Groundbreaking research shows how the design and maintenance of public spaces can directly impact our civic health. This is a guest post by Suzanne Nienaber. This is the first post in a three-part series on civic health. Last week, the Center for Active Design (CfAD) published original research from the Assembly Civic Engagement Survey (ACES),
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Director of Parks and Recreation Sara Hensley won the unanimous support of the city council when they recently created the document as part of a larger strategy to connect children to nature. This is a guest post by Steven Adler and Sara Hensley. This post is part of a series
In many cities, one of the most popular services utilized by the community is open space, including parks and playgrounds. Unfortunately, park use is also one of the hardest things for cities to measure. This is a guest post by Bobbi Nance and Edward Krafcik. This post is the first in a series celebrating National
“Imagine a city known for excellent environmental education because its parks are natural classroom. As a city, we are creating greater access to nature for all of our younger residents.” -Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss In November, seven Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) sites began implementing strategies for connecting children to nature more
The benefits of public green spaces within, or accessible to, urban areas are much greater than are often immediately understood. Here’s how cities stand to gain from increasing access to parks. This is a guest post by Jaime B. Matyas. As the nation seeks to unite after a contentious presidential election, areas of shared commitment
This year saw a number of posts that reached thousands of readers and were shared widely on social media. Here are the top five, in no particular order. 7 Ways City Leaders Can Address Racial Inequities City leaders must step up to take the lead with their police departments and community members to address racial inequities
