Because of its sheer density, it’s not surprising New York City is leading the U.S. with investing in a walkable built environment, with its streets to plazas program, car-free Times Square, comprehensive bike sharing plan, and its Ciclovia-inspired Summer Streets.

In response to the obesity trends illustrated below, it was just a matter of time before they introduced a plan to invest in an infrastructure that prioritizes public health, especially through being physically active. Produced by

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For those that are interested in learning what crowdsourced placemaking is all about, rather than explain it in charts, videos and case studies, perhaps it may best be explained by how it makes a difference for a single individual.

Let’s take young Robin Messerli of the crowdsourced placemaking effort in Bristol, Connecticut, known as Bristol Rising. Here are excerpts of what she has to say…

...Bristol is my home and I wish it were a place able to thrive for the next generation…

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Being that there really is no other resource on crowdsourced placemaking, here’s a brief update on how the field is progressing, with an invite for others to contribute their own updates.

Permanent projects.
- We’ve got a whammy of a real project in Bristol, Connecticut, pop. 61,000… a $1.2 billion downtown revitalization where the crowd has a direct role in identifying what public amenities should be the centerpiece. 200 votes for public amenity ideas they come up with within a two-month

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Is investing in the arts, as it relates to placemaking, profitable? Try this quote, coming from a real estate development organization (ULI), “There is a growing body of evidence that thoughtful investment in arts and culture initiatives can generate significant economic benefits for cities large and small. Looking at data collected across numerous studies, along with the broad array of recent arts and culture plans and projects, one will likely conclude that the right strategy and

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When it comes to crowdsourcing, there’s not much compelling about the Give a Minute program that allows a city’s residents to send in their ideas to improve their community via website, Facebook, Twitter, or text, like an online suggestion box. However, when a city commits to actually implementing the most popular and feasible ideas, now you have something meaningful.

That’s what New York City is adding to the Give a Minute! program, which has run its course in Chicago and Memphis. NYC’s

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South Africa certainly has a history of overcoming adversity, and redeveloping its waterfront into a regional and diverse destination was no exception.

It will never happen, its critics insisted. No financial institution would finance the project. As apartheid was winding down, South Africa was still politically very isolated from the world and in a general economic recession. There were no government subsidies available and many simply didn’t believe it was possible given the country’s

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With the crowdsourcing of an entire downtown’s revitalization in Bristol, Connecticut, it’s important that each person’s face-to-face experience reflects their online experience, and vice versa.

For instance, in the face-to-face meetings, people individually mention the kinds of public amenities and retail destinations they’d like to see in the downtown. The next step involves identifying the most popular or repeated suggestions, like say, a piazza, a skating rink and a beer garden. The crowd

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There aren’t too many times you’re going to hear crowdsourced placemaking discussed at the same time with growing local independent businesses, but the time is now. Check out the following description of “Crowdsourcing, “Carrotmobs” and Local Business” from the Washington DC based Kojo Nnamdi Show:

“Mom and Pop” businesses can’t necessarily beat prices at big box stores or national chains. So some local independent businesses are experimenting with new ways to engage customers and build

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That would be Bristol, Connecticut, population 61,000.

In the summer of 2010, the City of Bristol awarded development rights to Renaissance Downtowns, a real estate development firm that began investigating the application of crowdsourced placemaking to its developments in 2008. Renaissance has become increasingly committed to it, especially with the growth and energy of Bristol Rising!, the grassroots ‘beta community‘ representing the triple-bottom-line future of downtown.

Here’s a

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Crowdsourced placemaking is a fun, exciting way people can help shape the kinds of places in their neighborhoods they’ll be passionate for. To understand what crowdsourced placemaking is in depth, let’s answer the most commonly asked questions…

What is a one-sentence definition of crowdsourced placemaking?
The act of outsourcing tasks, traditionally performed by a real estate development entity, to a community of people with shared values via an open call, to create a place they’re

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