Each fall, the City of Grand Rapids, MI, hosts ArtPrize. Over 16 days, art is exhibited in galleries, storefronts, parks, museums, and other venues. Through public and juried voting, cash prizes are awarded. With almost 800,000 people visiting downtown to view and vote on artwork, the city decided to ask them what they would like…Continue reading

 

Many downtown leaders have developed a love-hate relationship with dogs and their owners. On the downside, pet waste can pose a smelly nuisance and a source of constant complaints. But on the upside, dog owners help activate public spaces. After all, dogs need to be walked multiple times per day, so dog owners are out…Continue reading

 

Hundreds of downtown events helped turnaround a public plaza long plagued by drugs and violence. After years of trying to enforce its way to a safer UN Plaza, the City of San Francisco tried a different approach. The focus is now on attraction and activation. A centerpiece of the park’s revival is a 13,000-square-foot skating…Continue reading

 

In San Francisco’s Yerba Buena district, the organization once budgeted a significant sum to host splashy events. Now, the organization invests in modest events such as an art and makers market, walking tours, and bracelet-making sessions. In San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter Association once hosted a Mardi Gras festival that was the largest such event…Continue reading

 

The Downtown Spokane Partnership encourages members to improve downtown safety and security with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. CPTED is a crime prevention strategy that uses the design of the physical environment to minimize opportunities for crime. Some cities write CPTED guidelines into their design standards, others provide CPTED reviews for downtown business owners, and…Continue reading

 

Starting in May, owners of full-sized pickup trucks and extended vans will face fines for parking in the angled spots in a three-block stretch of downtown Sioux Falls, SD. In other words, Ford F-150s, Dodge Rams, and other trucks with ambitious proportions could get tickets if their tailgates or hitches block traffic in a prime…Continue reading