In fight against garbage and litter, cities embrace a variety of strategies
July 1, 2025
TRAC garbage bins are located in converted parking spaces. In Raleigh, NC (est. pop. 482,425), the city is installing a new generation of garbage bins. Evanston, IL (est. pop. 75,073), is also upgrading its trash receptacles. New York City, meanwhile, is cajoling litterbugs to stop dropping trash on city streets. Downtown Raleigh, has introduced trash,…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtowns have recovered strongly from the pandemic, and downtown leaders need to rethink how they approach their roles, a top leader says. “It’s a moment of creative destruction in cities,” says Kris Larson, chairman of the International Downtown Association and president and chief executive officer at Central Houston Inc. The shock brought by the pandemic…
Foot and bicycle races of all kinds are popular downtown. Often they are stand-alone events, which take participants on routes through the city center. Others are part of broader event such as the Turkey Trots held regularly on Black Friday. But downtowns across the country are also creating their own races based on local lore,…
Wayfinding program expands The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District updated and expanded its wayfinding program in May. The new signage includes pedestrian kiosks, vehicle guides, and parking “trailblazers.” The new signage replaces older signs that no longer meet Department of Transportation standards and were nearing the end of their useful life. The BID said in…
In Janesville, WI (est. pop. 66,113), the Business Improvement District has installed more than 30 security cameras to monitor the downtown riverfront district. The BID has also asked downtown visitors and business owners to use the P3Tips app to report public safety concerns to the Janesville Police Department and Janesville Area Crime Stoppers. No crime…
Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach, FL (est. pop. 79,616), is one of the nation’s longest-lived pedestrian malls — the road has been closed to vehicle traffic for more than six decades. But that doesn’t mean all is well for the sun-soaked pedestrian mall. In recent years, a whole laundry list of merchants have closed…
After decades providing free on-street parking, downtown Jackson, MI (est. pop. 31,206), planned to install parking meters this summer. In March, the Jackson City Council unanimously approved the proposal to change how visitors pay for parking. Then, in a dance familiar to any downtown leader who has tried to raise parking rates, a public outcry…
In Columbus, OH (est. pop. 909,074), the job market is booming, and the population is growing. But the supply of housing hasn’t kept pace. To spur new building — along with greater density and more transit options — the city has overhauled its zoning code over the past few years. Under its longstanding zoning code,…
