New Release! Seniors Outdoor Activation Toolkit

We are proud to announce the release of our Seniors’ Outdoor Activation Toolkit created in partnership with WoodGreen Community Services. Throughout the summer and fall of 2021 we were busy working alongside WoodGreen to program parks and public spaces in and around seniors living facilities.  
Pre-pandemic, traditional seniors programming was often limited to the indoors. We challenged this idea by bringing programs like Zumba, Chair Yoga, Healing Dance, Pole Walking, Spanish class and Drumming Circles to the great outdoors. This Toolkit is a compilation of lessons learned and best practices to ensure parks and public spaces are age-friendly, fun and accessible. 

Read the Toolkit... 

Announcing School Streets Webpage

8 80 Cities has recently compiled and published a new School Streets webpage where you will find key information on School Streets and how to implement them in your neighbourhood. We will update the page with new reports and examples of this great program on a regular basis. Stay tuned. 
 
Visit the webpage... 

What We Are Reading

Belonging In Nature: A Conversation With The Founders Of Black Women Explore

Based in Akron, OH, Black Women Explore is an outdoor recreation group centering on creating a space for Black and Brown women and fem-identifying folks in the Akron community to connect with nature and try new things in a safe and inclusive way. In May 2021, Kimberly Young and Bronlynn Thurman started the group to drive people outdoors to release anxiety and leave isolation behind for a moment. Get to know these fascinating women who have made a difference in the lives of BIPOC women and fem-identifying folks in their community.

Continue reading...

Luke Crosswalker Tactical Urbanist. An Experiment On Safety

When people were speeding at a neighbourhood crosswalk in a suburban community in the U.S., a neon hero stepped into #SlowTheCars and protect local children on their way to school. Luke Crosswalker is a tactical urbanism experiment that was implemented back in 2009 by Danielle Richard, the author of this article from Strong Towns. Danielle shares the creative thinking behind the huge need of safety for pedestrians, especially children walking to school.

Continue reading...

Creating The Conditions For Social Well-Being 

Over the past year the Foundation For Social Connection held eight interactive conversations, which in total convened 26 experts and over 2,5000 community members from 55 countries to discuss the widespread, urgent public health issue of social isolation and loneliness. Their newly published report, Creating the Conditions for Social Well-Being, is now available and includes facts, insights and solutions to this issue.  

Read the report here... 

What We Are Watching

Recommended Readings & Resources

Best Practices. Dutch Cycling Embassy.  
A resource created with the objective to share some of the best examples and practices on all aspects of cycling so that more cities and countries around the world can experience the advantages of having cycling as a safe way of transportation. Check it out here... 

Including Disabled Children In Play Provision 
Based on the need of having inclusive playgrounds in every city, the Play Safety Forum has put together 'Including Disabled Children In Play Provision’ to uphold the right and need of every child to play, the creation of accessible and inclusive play spaces and the urgency to change our mindset as a society to develop a clear vision for new and improved play spaces where children of all abilities can enjoy the benefits of play. Read the statement...

Book Recommendation:  A Pattern Language. Christopher Alexander 

Christopher Alexander, an Austrian-born British-American architect and design theorist has recently passed away. Robert Steuteville via Public Square, a CNU Journal, makes a  tribute to one of the biggest influences on the New Urbanism movement.  A Pattern Language is a book that will guide you through the principles of design for various purposes. Get it here. 

Events & Announcements