Ahead of Earth Day, the planet is on our mind. In this edition of the newsletter, we share seven ways that Open Plans fights for a brighter climate future.

The movement for livable streets is full of inside lingo & specialized terms. Chicane, sneckdown, bulb-out; mode shift, density, induced demand. It can make anyone's head spin. Our new livable streets glossary is here to help. It's chock full of terms, tools & schools of thought that make up the livability movement. Even livability is in there!

Later this spring, congestion pricing will give us an unprecedented opportunity to improve New York's walkability, micromobility, and livability. But public officials and the media seem to be stuck talking about how it'll impact drivers and the “sacrifices” some will have to make for the greater good. We're focusing on the positive! Here are ten things congestion pricing can & should do for all New Yorkers — if Mayor Adams, Albany, the MTA, and the DOT act.

Things feel like they're thawing (if only temporarily) in New York City, and it's inspiring a flurry of activity! Last Thursday we hosted our second annual Public Space Awards - we want to thank everyone who joined us and made it such a fun night. If you missed it, you can still snag this cute sticker sheet that declares your love of public space while supporting the work we do to help make more of it!

This batch of Streetfilms chronicles Paris’s swiftly changing streets as the city boldly implements Mayor Hidalgo’s vision for a modern, people-centered city where cars are mere guests.

The iconic Corona Plaza has become far more than a mere paved space or collection of food vendors — it is a cultural hub and destination for Queens and the city at-large. Consistently named on lists of New York bests, including the New York Times Top 100 Restaurants list, Corona Plaza is a place like no other.

Students can now apply for a summer internship at Open Plans! Our interns dive into hands-on projects that put them at the center of the livability world, working closely with Open Plans staff, meeting stakeholders across the city , and working on projects that directly impact our streets and public spaces.

It's up to New Yorkers like you to tell us who should win this year's Best Public Space Activator award at February 29th's Public Space Awards! Polls close this Sunday, February 25th and we'll announce the winner LIVE during the awards.

Since the pandemic inspired a reimagining of city streets, North Brooklyn has emerged as a hotbed of street improvements and people-centered streets. Catalyzed by dedicated neighbors and organizations rallying together, many separate Open Streets, public plazas, street redesigns and activations have grown in the neighborhood, creating a network of people-centered spaces and a sense that North Brooklyn is reclaiming their streets and their community.

When you join your Community Board, you become a part of the conversations that shape your neighborhood. You don’t have to own property to be a CB member, you just need to live or work within the district. Your neighborhood needs diverse voices like yours!

Starting today, you can decide who wins the final award at our Public Space Awards on Thursday, February 29th! Our People’s Choice poll will crown one Public Space Activator and it's up to New Yorkers like you to tell us who should win. Polls are open now!

For this year’s Public Space Awards, we have chosen four fabulous movers-and-shakers in the public realm to receive awards on Thursday, Feb. 29th. But there’s one awardee who hasn’t been decided yet, and that’s because YOU get to do the deciding!

There’s a process underway on the Upper West Side that aims to tackle a vexing inequity and inefficiency on New York City streets, and we’re pretty excited about its potential. The NYC DOT is conducting a Smart Curbs Pilot with the goal of rebalancing curb use to benefit all New Yorkers, not just the minority who own cars.

DOT’s Summer Streets gave NYC our first look at large-scale people-centered streets; the 2023 expansion to all five boroughs and more weekends is why DOT is our Citywide Transformation award winner!

We interview Kenneth Mbonu, who cares for community and public space in his position with the Flatbush Nostrand Junction Business Improvement District - our winner for Neighborhood Champion at this year’s Public Space Awards on February 29th.