Once a thriving thoroughfare, Route 66 was abandoned for faster freeways leaving abandoned gas stations and economic strife in its wake. The EPA Brownfields Program and state and local initiatives are addressing the issue: How can Route 66 be cleaned up to promote economic vitality and bring new life to rural communities? Brownfields have already been cleaned up and restored to new use as parks and transit depots in communities like Winslow and Flagstaff. Potential redevelopment opportunities also include land for green technology such as solar and wind energy.
Three months ago, Karrie Kohlhaas didn’t know what a rain garden was. Now she has one in her front yard and there are nine others on her block. That’s how fast rain gardens are spreading around the Seattle metropolitan area.
LocalData is a toolkit that helps community groups gather neighborhood-level information. With multiple ways to collect this data, people of all ages, technical ability or access can efficiently manage and collect important neighborhood-level information.
This past weekend, San Francisco’s Urban Prototyping Festival, held in the city’s troubled yet evolving Central Market neighborhood, showcased creative innovations from local residents that aim to make the urban environment more livable.