by ronb | Sep 30, 2026 | Parks
People wanted bathrooms, a cafe and a water feature in addition to an expansive lawn and plenty of shade. After an uninspiring update in 1986, Public Square was again up for a facelift in 2009, and the current design was completed just in time for the GOP Convention...
by ronb | Sep 16, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
Railroad Park in Birmingham is featured in our Parks and Recreation episode highlighting exemplary parks and trails with fascinating backstories. It’s a 19-acre expanse of green with a manmade lake, streams and mounds that tie together the north and south sides...
by ronb | Sep 2, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
Cities today are looking to arts and entertainment, drinking and dining, and special events as a way to draw crowds back into urban centers. As with so many issues facing cities, the challenges and prescriptions are nothing new. When Ed Rendell became mayor of...
by ronb | Aug 19, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
At a time when cities are looking to remake their downtowns, many are redefining their city centers as distinct neighborhoods instead of just employment and entertainment centers. While cities have been losing families for years, a trend accelerated by the...
by ronb | Aug 5, 2026 | Cities, History
At a time when cities are routinely affected by wildfire smoke not of their making, let’s take a look at how America’s onetime steel capital took deliberate actions to clear the severe air pollution largely caused by its leading industry. Pittsburgh...
