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In the fall of 2022, 8 80 Cities and the City of Kitchener came together to launch the first-ever pop-up park in downtown Kitchener to build excitement and engage diverse communities in reimagining parks and public spaces through an equity lens. We are happy to share the recently published Kitchener Pop-Up Park Report, which summarizes the project's findings and key data observations.
Download the report...
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Last March, we presented our newest service, the 8 80 Neighbourhood Diagnostic, to a small, engaging group of civic leaders across the GTHA. Check out what we discussed in the webinar recording here.
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Jonathan Chan, Rosa Braico, Olivia Savona and Shameel Mohammed, University of Toronto Students and 8 80 Cities 2022 Fall interns, spoke to Parinita Rajagopalan, Director, Policy and Partnerships, Parks and Recreation Ontario, about parks, the right to public space, the impacts of Bill 23, and park management.
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In this article, Dr. Preston Pouteaux gives us the recipe for a remarkable "everyday neighbourhood," and the main ingredients are: A great neighbourhood has a name; residents know where it is, what it is and whether they belong to it; there is at least one place that serves as its center; it has a generally agreed upon spatial extent; it has everyday facilities and services; It has internal and external connectivity; it is diverse; it has a means of representation. What about your neighbourhood? Is it remarkable?
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Women are, on average, 21 percent more likely to use public transportation than men. It’s, therefore, critical that anyone designing a product for public transport keeps a gendered perspective front and center. Based on data collection and analysis from different cities, Emma Chapman and Naomi Grant from WhereIsMyTransport, a technology company and central source of mobility and location data for emerging markets, share insights on designing and building Rumbo, a consumer public transport app to support women’s (and everyone) use of public transportation with their unique needs in mind.
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Going green helps cities adapt to climate change, lower emissions, and tackle air pollution. More trees and green areas highly benefit residents' mental health. Such is the example of Barcelona, where urban planners pilot a scheme to tame traffic and create more green spaces across three neighbourhoods. Learn more in this article by Helen Collis.
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The rail trestle across Muhammad Ali Boulevard, once called Walnut Street, beside the Louisville Central Community Center. (Photo by Oscar Perry Abello)
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In this article, Oscar Perry Abello tells how longtime residents of the West End in Louisville, Kentucky, collaborated on a book that chronicles the neighbourhood’s history and seeks to guide the multi-million-dollar redevelopment investment in the gentrifying area.
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Reclaiming Our Streets with Parkly Parklets
In this Active Towns episode, John Simmerman connects with Päivi Raivio, co-founder of Helsinki-based Parkly, an innovative firm transforming public places with a modular, scalable solution by creating platforms for enjoying the urban greenscape.
Watch the video
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Elise Roy: When We Design For Disability, We All Benefit
In this TED Talk, Elise Roy, a disability rights lawyer and design thinker, shares how being Deaf gave her unique ways of experiencing the world and the impact that designing for disability first can bring solutions we probably don't think of when creating for the norm.
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Placemaking for Active Recreation Kit The PARK project’s overall objective is to link placemakers (grassroots urban designers) and grassroots sports organizations and professionals and, as a result, to create a common solutions package that will support and improve the capacities of both sectors and result in improved programs and places facilitating physical activity in urbanized areas.
CitiesWithNature is a unique initiative that recognizes and enhances the value of nature in and around cities worldwide. It provides a shared platform for cities and their partners to engage and connect, working with a shared commitment towards a more sustainable urban world.
The Bold Policy Project, led by Jay Pitter, seeks to transform Black public space precarity into equitable public space through policy reform. Here is the project’s first policy brief, highlighting 10+ compelling case studies, which integrate Black public space stories and urban policies to create a foundational understanding of the issue across historical periods, geographies and violations.
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The Ontario Community Changemakers program seeks innovative mindsets from all backgrounds who want to make a difference in their communities through creative and unique ideas to activate public space, enhance civic engagement, and/or foster social inclusion—powered by 8 80 Cities with support from Balsam Foundation. Apply Now! This year the program will feature an in-person studio and ongoing virtual coaching and capacity building. You can learn more about the Studio here. Looking for inspiration? Read #OCChnagemakers 2022-2023 project updates here.
We seek an enthusiastic Project Coordinator to support our various projects and initiatives. This is an entry-level position for the ideal candidate who seeks to gain progressive experience and mentoring toward the role of a project manager. Under the supervision of the Project Managers, the Project Coordinator will have the opportunity to support transformative mobility and public space projects, assist in innovative community engagement activities, and collaborate on influential reports and tools. Read the job description...
As part of the Placemaking Canada Gathering taking place in Toronto June 11-12, 8 80 Cities and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), in conjunction with the Healthy Communities Initiative, will be hosting an evening Rooftop Social on Sunday, June 11 from 6-8 pm. Hold the date in your calendar so you can join us on the beautiful rooftop garden at the historic 401 Richmond Building.
Calling All Cities: Entries Open for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and its extensive network of partners proudly announce that entries are officially open for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024. AIPH warmly invites all cities, large and small, to enter the only global awards for cities where plants and nature are the core focus. We are thrilled to partner with and support AIPH again this year!
Park People Conference 2023 is Happening in Toronto June 21-23, 2023. The Park People Conference is a national event that brings together Canada’s community park group leaders, non-profit organizations, government staff and park professionals.
International Public Markets Conference
A three-day event on June 8-10, 2023. Co-hosts Project for Public Spaces, the City of Toronto, St. Lawrence Market, and Market Cities TO invite you to help unlock the potential of market systems as equitable sources of well-being and opportunity in one of the world’s great Market Cities—Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Registration is open!
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