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From October 14 – 16, the City of Kitchener and 8 80 Cities partnered to launch the first-ever POP-UP PARK in downtown Kitchener to build excitement and engage diverse communities in reimagining parks and public spaces from an equity lens. The project is part of the City of Kitchener’s broader Places and Spaces Parks Strategic Planning process.
The pop-up park featured physical design elements that represent community ideas including accessible pathways and play, nature-based play elements, green open flexible spaces for passive use and cultural activities, an open fire, picnic tables and natural seating, community food gardens, and interactive art.
The pop-up park was both an injection of green space, and a means to engage with the community on a future vision for parks and public spaces in Kitchener. All pop-up materials will be re-used in parks across the City of Kitchener while the cedars and other medicines were donated to a local Indigenous organization.
Watch the video and see how fun it was!
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8 80 Cities Manager of Communications and Administration, Camila Uriona, spoke to Sue Lantz, BA, MPA an expert in successful “aging in place” including healthcare, housing, and caregiving. Sue is passionate about creative solutions for aging that are meaningful to the individual, empowering and practical. She is an expert in preparing and supporting caregivers as crucial partners in the care process. Sue has established effective relationships with various organizations and stakeholders in the community, healthcare sector, and housing. She is the author of the guidebook “Options Open: The Guide for Mapping Your Best Aging Journey” and currently serves on the board of 8 80 Cities.
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The understanding of accessibility needs to include physical, psychological and social dimensions to understand how folks with mobility limitations interact with and participate in the urban environment. In this article, D. Labbé et. al., use a photovoice research method to paint a picture of temporal rhythms, environmental barriers and the socially constructed idea of disability.
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Every place has a story to tell, but how do we achieve locally relevant, authentic, creative placemaking? Placemaking is thought by many to be an external injection of vibrancy through performance, design and spectacle, but every place has a soul and a story. The question is how do you bring this story forward and integrate it into the shaping of space?
Continue reading to find out.
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Bikesharing systems across the world are often seen as first and last mile complements to transit. But maybe its time cities start prioritizing co-locating micro mobility stations at or near transit stops while also integrating trip booking systems. Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C has taken the lead on this integration announcing that residents could get a free 30-day Capital Bikeshare membership that includes free 45-minutes rides and discounts on e-bikes. But in North America, we still see first and last connections made via bike a last resort. This Bloomberg article offers excellent insight into the history of booms in bike usage, asking the question many are thinking amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, can it last?
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Over the past five years, the exponential growth of School Streets powerfully illustrates how urban change can sometimes be non-linear and transformational. School Streets are a novel type of urban planning intervention that aim to improve safety and encourage children’s active school travel.
In this article, Richard Clark discusses the growth and benefits of this program around the world.
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A recent report from The Brookings Institution on smaller communities finds that investments in “quality of life and place” are more effective than many traditional economic development tools. The report demonstrates that investment in civic infrastructure (like parks, trails, libraries and cultural centers) remains an under-recognized economic development strategy.
This article by Reimagining the Civic Commons profiles five examples of how cities are focusing on the connection between transforming public spaces and supporting a more equitable and healthy local economy.
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Summer Streets New York
Summer Streets is a multi-day, annual car-free event held in August in Manhattan between the Brooklyn Bridge and East Harlem. NYC DOT hosts free public art installations, performances and activities at Rest Stops along the route. Activities promote fitness, recreation, arts, culture — and fun! Approximately 300,000 people enjoy Summer Streets each year.
Watch the video...
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Viva Calle SJ
Viva CalleSJ is a free program that temporarily closes miles of San Jose streets to bring communities together to walk, bike, skate, play, and explore the city like never before.
Viva CalleSJ provides people with the chance to enjoy a day of fun connecting with other residents of San Jose and their city in a whole new way.
Watch the video...
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2021-2022 School Streets Program Report (vancouver.ca) The city of Vancouver expanded its School Streets Program to five local elementary schools in the 2021-22 school year. The purpose of the program is to improve safety around schools and promote and encourage active transportation (walking, biking, rolling and transit) to and from school in support of the Climate Emergency Action Plan goal of having two-thirds of daily trips be taken by active transportation and transit by 2030. Read the report here.
The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is Canada's most comprehensive summary and assessment of child and youth physical activity. It provides a comprehensive assessment of indicators using the academic letter grade approach. For over 15 years the Report Card has provided essential guidance and information for Canada and even globally, as it is now replicated around the world. This year’s Report Card highlights how we’re only beginning to understand how COVID-19 impacted the movement behaviours of children and youth in Canada. Check it out...
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8 80 Cities, along with Green Communities Canada, is pleased to invite you to a webinar to discuss our Ontario School Streets Pilot Summary Report on November 16, 2022, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST. The report will be published on our School Streets webpage in the coming week.
Join us at the free webinar as we celebrate the year-long initiative to pilot School Streets in Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, and Kingston, and share with you our learnings from the pilots. The webinar will also include a panel discussion with the team leads from the four communities. Register here for the webinar.
Hey, Canadian cities, start assembling your dream team to join a study trip and policy implementation workshop for your city team in Copenhagen in Fall 2023!!! Check out this fantastic opportunity to learn from good practices in public space and active transportation to support health and well-being. We are excited to re-launch this initiative with our partners from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
More information here.
 We’re excited to be included in the #BlueMarbleGallery, a creative project showcasing our work on Wintermission- addressing Social Isolation through Winter Placemaking! We welcome you to visit the virtual pop-up exhibit and browse the collection
Save your spot now to be part of this specialized event of educational and experiential content, aimed at public space professionals and urban parks. Monterrey, November 14-18, 2022. 8 80 Cities ED Amanda O’Rourke will host a session on children and play.
Register here.
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