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Your monthly roundup of news, tools, and events from the world of 8 80 Cities.
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New! Winter Placemaking and Addressing Homelessness in Parks Guides

8 80 Cities is excited to launch two new guides focused on creating more inclusive and healthy year-round public spaces: 

  1. Winter Placemaking Guide 

  1. Addressing Homelessness in Parks: An Inclusive Practices Guide.  

These two guides were supported by our amazing partner AARP, building off our collaboration in 2018 when we co-developed the Creating Parks and Public Spaces for All Ages Guide. Creating inclusive cities begins with improving the living conditions for the most vulnerable in all seasons. 
 
Read the
  Winter Placemaking Guide.  
 
Read 
Addressing Homelessness in Parks: An Inclusive Practices Guide

8 80 Cities & Green Communities Canada Partner to Pilot School Streets in Three Ontario Communities

It’s September and that means it's time to go back to school! But how do you go back to school? Do you walk, bike or roll? We are working on a new project with Green Communities Canada called the ‘Ontario School Streets Pilot’ to pilot School Streets in Hamilton, Markham and Mississauga during the 2021-22 school year so that people there can choose to walk, bike or roll to school. Funded through Ontario Active School Travel, the aim of the project is to encourage active travel to school for students, caregivers, parents, teachers and the broader school community.   

Read the full blog post

What We Are Watching

The Rise of Open Streets 

 An oldie but goodie. Watch this classic collection of videos from Streetfilms about Ciclovias or Open Streets around the world produced by Streetfilms in 2007 but just as relevant today!





Watch the videos...

Montreal's Popular Pedestrian Open Streets
Pedestrianized streets in Montreal are very popular! Since the pandemic, the City has ramped up the numbers and length of pedestrianized or open streets throughout all seven boroughs of the city. Check out more of the magic of opening streets to people in this video by Streetfilms.
Watch the video...

What  We Are Reading

Paris Rolls Out Streets to Schools & Cuts Speed Limits

This school year, Paris rolled out a series of pedestrianized streets called ‘streets to schools’ to make the environment around schools more secure, and safer for children to get to and from school on foot. Check out this article by Simon Weedy to read more about this initiative and other strategies that Paris is implementing to make the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Continue reading...

World Failing to Address Dementia Challenge

The number of people living with dementia right now is estimated to be more than 55 million. By 2030, this number is estimated to rise to 78 million. Yet only a quarter of countries worldwide have a national policy, strategy or plan for supporting people with dementia and their families. Half of these countries are in WHO’s European Region with the remainder split between the other Regions. A new report by WHO called ‘Global status report on the public health response to dementia’ highlights the urgent need to strengthen support at a national level, both in terms of care for people with dementia, and in support for the people who provide that care, in both formal and informal settings.

Read this press release to know more about the report’s findings.

How The Pandemic And A Renewed Focus On Equity Could Reshape Transportation

In this interview with Charles Brown, founder of Equitable Cities, Lori Aratani (Washington Post) discusses the common transportation issues that became more visible during the pandemic and their direct relationship with racial inequities in the U.S. As we walk towards a somehow "normal" state of things, Charles analyzes the impacts of the pandemic and the future of transportation and the need for a more equitable and inclusive system oriented to all the overlooked communities. 

Continue reading...

Child-Friendly Participatory Design

Check out this case study on Child-Friendly Participatory Design and see how this approach can transform urban spaces and create a more resilient and inclusive city. The Birch Cliff Quarry Lands in Toronto’s east end is being redeveloped into a mix of public parks and housing, with the views and ideas of children being put front and centre. Working closely with design and engagement specialists from Evergreen, Recreate Place and Trophic Design, Grade 1-8 students from Blantyre P.S. participated in a series of collaborative brainstorming sessions, gathering information from the wider community and then presenting their vision of a park focusing on nature and accessibility to the City of Toronto and Diamond Kilmer Developments.  

Their recommendations and concepts can be seen in this short video.

Photo Credit: Blantyre Public School.

Events & Announcements

Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens: More Than Just Green Space

Tuesday, October 5. 11:00 - 11:50 am. Register here.

Tune in for another session of A Walk in the Park with Gil. This time we'll learn from Denise Ora, Chief Executive of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia. How do they manage to keep citizens interested and engaged? Over 10 million people visit this fantastic public space each year. What is their secret?
Join us to find out how. FREE webinar. 


Watch past webinars & share with colleagues, students & friends on Gil's YouTube channel.

A Walk in the Park Upcoming Sessions

  • October 5: Denise Ora, Chief Executive, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain. Greater Sydney, Australia. More than Just Green Space.
  • October 19: Chris Glaisek, Chief Planning and Design Officer. Waterfront Toronto.The Making of the New Don River.
  • November 2: Jayne Miller, Chair of World Urban Parks and CEO Jayne Miller Consulting. Minneapolis - America's Legacy Park System & Driving Parks Equity
  • November 16: Erion Veliaj, Mayor city of Tirana, Albania. Parks and other Public Spaces: When Children are the Priority.

25 Participants Needed For Research Study

Master of Planning student, Brittany Livingston, is looking for 25 participants for their research study: “The relationship between urban public space and mental wellbeing for young Torontonians with mental illness." Participants should be 18-30 years old, currently living in Toronto with regular access to a smartphone. Sign up for the study here.

Team Bonding Through Art In The Park

Last week the 8 80 Cities team enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at East Lynn Park, east side of Toronto, close to where we did the 8 80 Streets Danforth pop-up intervention in 2019. We love the east side of the city, and our Project Manager, Jiya Benni, put together a relaxing and beautiful activity we all enjoyed! We had a blast and were happy to meet and enjoy some quality in-person time together. Thank you, Jiya!
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