In Great Barrington, MA (est. pop. 2,331), a six-year-old busker event has gained enough momentum that the host organization has created its own nonprofit and wants to replicate the model elsewhere. Lewiston, ME (est. pop. 38,324), kicked off a busking festival in 2025 that proved successful. And in Lawrence, KS (est. pop. 97,265), and Burlington,…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtowns everywhere are dealing with rising temperatures and intensifying urban heat islands. Nowhere is the issue more acute than Phoenix, the hottest major metropolis in the United States. With the mercury above 100 throughout the summer months, Phoenix officials are taking steps to turn down the heat. The city launched the Office of Heat Response…To read more — login/subscribe
During the pandemic, slow-growing cities in overlooked regions seized on a new way to foster population growth: Paying remote workers to move to town. Topeka, KS (est. pop. 125,475), and Tulsa, OK (est. pop. 413,652), are trying it. So are Newton, IA (est. pop. 15,700), and Neodesha, KS (est. pop. 2,500). The rationale makes sense:…To read more — login/subscribe
In Traverse City, MI (est. pop. 15,593), downtown trash bins were overflowing early in the summer --- so much so that visitors took to Facebook to post photos and wonder what downtown leaders were thinking. That embarrassment led the Downtown Development Authority, the City of Traverse City, and trash collection company GFL to tackle the…To read more — login/subscribe
Programming gives life to public places and is an essential component of making them great. Fortunately many spaces can be activated with small, inexpensive programs. Errin Welty, senior downtown development director at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is a proponent of these modest initiatives. "Creative, small-scale placemaking strategies can have an outsized impact," she says,…To read more — login/subscribe
City investigates potential for downtown housing Heart of Ellsworth, in Ellsworth, Maine, has launched a downtown housing project aimed at increasing housing availability by activating underutilized spaces in the city center. The project is a partnership between Heart of Ellsworth, the City of Ellsworth, and the Ellsworth Public Library. The Mid-Coast Board of Realtors is…To read more — login/subscribe
Visit Main Street in Littleton, NH (est. pop. 4,114), and you're likely to hear people playing pianos set up along Main Street sidewalks. Head a block from Main Street and you'll find public xylophones installed at Harmony Park along the Ammonoosuc Riverwalk. Littleton's experiment with outdoor instruments as a placemaking tool has endured. While many…To read more — login/subscribe
In Chattanooga, TN (est. pop. 191,495), a program to incentivize merchants to update downtown storefronts has seen strong early results. Oui Oui Boulangerie used a grant to add a festive awning. Sully's Crepe Co. added outdoor seating with an umbrella and planters. Scoop Around Ice Cream Bar installed a fresh sign. The nonprofit River City…To read more — login/subscribe
The Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, MA (est. pop. 120,418), hosted its 39th annual event this summer. Tens of thousands of visitors filled the streets to hear blues, country, rock, and rap music. Organizers have kept going despite setbacks such as the National Endowment for the Arts' decision in 2025 not to continue to provide…To read more — login/subscribe
