Engaging Youth and Growing Rural Urbanists

How are we doing as urban planners to engage youth in the visioning, planning and design of the cities and farms that they will inherit? As the dog days of summer get underway, there are ample opportunities for planners working on site plans, station area planning, long-range or comprehensive planning to engage youth and take advantage of the fresh ideas and eagerness which the next generation brings to these issues. Engage kids and you may be surprised by what ideas emerge, including a burgeoning rural urbanism.

Planning for Regional Competitiveness

MZ Strategies, LLC and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) released a new report entitled “Planning for Regional Competitiveness.,” funded by the McKnight Foundation to help inform efforts underway in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The report highlights best practices that strengthen regional economic competitiveness. Building upon lessons learned from the greater Denver, Seattle-Tacoma, and Kansas City metropolitan regions and a national survey of regional planning councils, the report provides recommendations to improve regional economic competitiveness and improve cooperation to grow economies and reduce economic disparities.

Twin Cities: A Region Ready to Thrive!

The Twin Cities region is in the midst of a transit renaissance with two rail transit lines in operation, a third under construction and plans well underway for additional bus rapid transit and light rail expansion. The Twin Cities are a region ready to thrive!