Over the past decade, Rockford, IL (est. pop. 147,649), has cultivated public art. The Rockford Public Art Trail features more than 100 pieces throughout Winnebago County. All of the art is listed in a mobile passport which lets visitors learn about the artists and the stories behind each piece. “Rockford has both a high quality…To read more — login/subscribe
Weekly farmers market in Madison, WI. Large festivals may attract massive crowds, but they tend to be concentrated in short bursts. The big annual event might let downtown shine for one weekend, but what happens when the event is over? Smaller, recurring events address this challenge by providing reasons for visitors to return downtown week…To read more — login/subscribe
Keeping dollars downtown with gift cards Downtown groups often promote custom gift cards. These cards function like traditional gift cards but are designed specifically to be spent at participating businesses within a downtown, ensuring that money stays local. Some downtowns will even offer a small incentive. For example, when Fredricksburg (VA) Main Street launched its…To read more — login/subscribe
Participants consider the options for public art. Aspen, CO (est. pop. 6,862), is famous for its ski slopes and its high-priced real estate. Now, the small city is trying to make a mark as a hub of public art. This year the city launched Aspen Public Art, an initiative designed to enliven public spaces with…To read more — login/subscribe
Residents work to slow traffic in their neighborhoods. Tactical urbanism was once an edgy concept. It called for urban guerillas to ignore the usual bureaucracy and take matters into their own hands with pop-up attractions and hastily installed public art. Turns out the idea was so good that major cities are making tactical urbanism part…To read more — login/subscribe
In most downtowns, crime prevention efforts focus on such things as a visible police presence, private security patrols, and graffiti clean-up crews. But a number of cities are turning to a solution known as crime prevention through environmental design, or CPTED. In contrast to traditional hardening measures, CPTED focuses instead on visually pleasing solutions that…To read more — login/subscribe
Hoboken, NJ (est. pop. 59149), is awash in public art. One of the city’s most popular programs is the summertime event known as Through the Windows Art Walk, which transforms much of the downtown into a vibrant art gallery. Visitors are invited to stroll through downtown and to scan QR codes on storefront stickers to…To read more — login/subscribe
Gunnison, CO (est. pop. 6,821), is taking steps to increase housing density by allowing more accessory dwelling units and removing residential lot size requirements. During a series of public open houses, the small city heard residents who were eager for such alternative development styles as accessory dwelling units, apartments for seniors, clustered cottages, mobile home…To read more — login/subscribe
Since 2023, Maryville, MO (est. pop. 10,556), has used a Saturday morning farmer’s market to boost downtown vibrancy and support local entrepreneurs. “Past attempts to organize a farmers market struggled with location, engagement, and long-term vision. Downtown had a low vacancy rate but needed to generate more foot traffic,” DeAnn Davison, executive director of Downtown…To read more — login/subscribe
