'Triangular' relaxation in Lake Forest-
- This post was written by Alex Gilbert, MPC research assistant.
Surrounded by three streets, Triangle Park in Lake Forest is an overlooked public space. The park would be almost empty if it weren’t for the pedestrian walkway going through it. People may notice the distinctive metal deer…
In concrete jungle, Art Institute's gardens provide an oasis-
- Many of Chicagoland’s most cherished public spaces are tucked away in the hearts of neighborhoods, known only to a lucky few. This summer, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) want to shine a spotlight on these special places across Chicagoland…
Reinventing public investment for a greener Chicago region-
The final installment of the MPC-CAF summer discussion series, "Reinventing Public Investment," focused on opportunities for more environmentally and economically sustainable energy, drinking water, and wastewater policies.
Northwest Indiana takes to heart Burnham’s famous appeal, “Make no little plans….”-
The Marquette Plan, Northwest Indiana’s ambitious plan to revitalize and protect its Lake Michigan shoreline, reflects many of the ideals embodied in Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. The plan earned MPC’s prestigious Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning in 2007.
- The Creative City: Keeping Chicago Vibrant and Viable
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Bob McNulty of the Partners for Livable Communities spoke to a sold-out crowd at MPC’s first 2009 roundtable, “The Creative City: Keeping Chicago Vibrant and Viable.”
- Goal-Driven, Right-Sized and Coordinated: Federal Investment Reform for the 21st Century
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- In the midst of an unprecedented economic downturn, community, civic, government, nonprofit and foundation leaders across metropolitan Chicago are planting encouraging seeds of innovation. MPC has released a white paper documenting some of those innovative local efforts, and is seeking more examples to further build the case for federal investment reform.
Vote for Chicagoland's best public place in the "What Makes Your Place Great?" photo and video contest-
Online voting begins Aug. 10 and runs through Sept. 14.
- Conservation easements still the way to go for agricultural preservation
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- Illinois Senate Bill 286, which would have empowered county governments to create farmland preservation easement programs, died in the House on May 7, 2009. One argument against easements is that zoning is an effective tool to preserve farms. MPC offers a handful of reasons to the contrary.
- Residents come out in force to shape the future of the Polish Triangle
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More than 700 residents have participated in MPC’s Placemaking project to create a vision for the Polish Triangle, at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Division Street, and Ashland Avenue.
Transit Innovation: Public Transit in the City of Tomorrow-
- Every two weeks, MPC uncovers best practices from around the world and delivers them right to your inbox in Talking Transit. This week, MPC examines Masdar, a city being built from the ground up in the United Arab Emirates, as the world’s first car-free, emissions-free city.