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mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Mitchell Silver
@mitchellsilver.bsky.social
8.5K followers 250 following 180 posts
Urban planner, speaker, placemaker and professor of practice. Former NYC Parks Commissioner, Raleigh Chief Planning Officer and AICP & APA President. Passionate about people, planning, parks & public space.
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mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Warming cities can't afford to sacrifice their urban #parks.

www.scmp.com/opinion/asia...
Opinion | Warming cities can’t afford to sacrifice their urban parks
Green spaces lower urban temperatures and boost quality of life. Cities may be short of space, but trading parks for concrete is a bad bargain.
www.scmp.com
September 13, 2026 at 7:48 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org

flip.it/XIYp_W
Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org
Doctors are increasingly mandating time in nature to treat patients' chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and sedentary lifestyles.
flip.it
September 9, 2026 at 1:26 AM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
The lingering importance of public spaces #parks ##publicspace

flip.it/Kybo83
Globe editorial: The lingering importance of public spaces
Parks are not just the leftover gaps between buildings, but a place for citizens to encounter one another
flip.it
September 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org

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Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org
Doctors are increasingly mandating time in nature to treat patients' chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and sedentary lifestyles.
flip.it
September 4, 2026 at 8:52 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
The Oakline - connecting Downtown #Raleigh to Dix Park gains momentum.

www.axios.com/local/raleig...
$90 million idea: The Oakline would connect downtown Raleigh to Dix Park
The elevated walkway would travel between the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and Dix Park.
www.axios.com
September 2, 2026 at 4:12 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Study: Legalizing single-family home conversions could nearly double LA's new housing www.planetizen.com/news/2026/06...
Study: Legalizing single-family home conversions could nearly double LA's new housing
Research shows that making it easier to turn single-family homes into multiple units could unlock tens of thousands of new units per year.
www.planetizen.com
August 31, 2026 at 7:44 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
The Happiest Cities of 2026.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/r...
The Happiest Cities of 2026
A study mined data on emotional, physical and financial health, as well as community and environmental factors, to find the happiest Americans.
www.nytimes.com
August 30, 2026 at 7:32 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Excited about this project becoming a reality. Connecting Downtown to Dix Park. #Oakline #Raleigh #parks, #publicspace #placemaking

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...
New idea emerges for elevated walkway connecting downtown Raleigh and Dix Park
The Oakline, unveiled at Downtown Raleigh Alliance event this week, is touted as both visionary and realistic.
www.newsobserver.com
August 28, 2026 at 3:55 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
NYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040

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NYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040
The city aims to increase canopy tree coverage by nearly 30% to cool streets and decrease heat-related illness.
flip.it
August 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Is this the first wave of de-gentrification?

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Is this the first wave of de-gentrification?
Valencia, Temescal, H Street and the fickle fortunes of the gentrified neighborhood.
flip.it
August 23, 2026 at 1:57 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
News may get mixed reactions. $100M will support projects in Allentown, ATL, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Little Rock, LA, SLC and Sioux Falls. Plans include playgrounds & community gardens, restored wetlands, urban forests and a 20-acre riverfront park. thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com/bezos-earth-...
Bezos Earth Fund Commits $100 Million to Turn Vacant Urban Land Into Parks and Green Spaces | The Healthcare Technology Report.
The Healthcare Technology Report is your comprehensive source for business news, investment activity and corporate actions related to the software and SaaS sectors
thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com
August 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Extreme weather is weakening social connections

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Extreme weather is weakening social connections
Extreme heat, flooding and other weather events are increasing isolation and fraying social ties.
flip.it
August 10, 2026 at 5:21 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
What makes a neighborhood truly pedestrian-friendly? The factors that encourage people to walk

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What makes a neighborhood truly pedestrian-friendly?
A sedentary lifestyle is a trap lurking around every corner, and adopting more active lifestyles is an increasing priority
flip.it
August 10, 2026 at 5:19 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/r...
How Much of N.Y.C. Is Covered by Trees? Not Enough.
A goal to improve and expand the city’s tree canopy lacks a solid plan and the money to enact one.
www.nytimes.com
August 9, 2026 at 1:39 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
How urban design makes the world unsafe for women — and how we can change that
An industrial designer explains how cities, cars and other everyday items could better serve women.
www.planetizen.com
August 6, 2026 at 3:03 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
I found this article very endearing.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/w...
The Comforting Resurgence of ‘Grandma Hobbies’
In search of calm and community, new generations are learning centuries-old skills.
www.nytimes.com
August 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
This will be interesting to watch. #parks

www.audacy.com/krld/news/lo...
Dallas considers billboard ads in city parks to help avoid deep budget cuts
Dallas leaders weigh commercial billboards in public parks to generate revenue and prevent $13M budget cuts and service reductions. | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD
www.audacy.com
August 4, 2026 at 8:17 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Places need to be fun!

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
America faces a 'fun shortage'
The United States has lost nearly a third of its bowling alleys and a fifth of its movie theaters since 2001.
www.planetizen.com
August 4, 2026 at 12:55 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
North Carolina eliminates parking minimums in most of state
A new state law prevents cities from requiring a certain number of parking spaces for new developments.
www.planetizen.com
August 4, 2026 at 12:52 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘If a space is cared for, everything improves’: Meet four gardeners transforming their urban communities
From improving biodiversity to managing antisocial behaviour, the benefits of greening towns and cities are massive. These names are leading the charge…
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2026 at 2:33 AM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
2026's Best Cities for Outdoor Parties. #NYC takes the top spot.

www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies...
2026’s Best Cities for Outdoor Parties
Discover which U.S. cities shine in 2026’s Best Cities for Outdoor Parties ranking, based on outdoor venue options, park accessibility, party supply resources, and climate comfort for year-round celeb...
www.lawnstarter.com
July 3, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Mitchell Silver
placemakingx.bsky.social
“If democracy is letting the people decide, then Placemaking is one of the most powerful tools we have.” @mitchellsilver.bsky.social former @nycparks.bsky.social commissioner and current @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social board member. #PlacemakingWeek
June 25, 2026 at 2:14 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
Top 10 'Stickiest' Downtowns in the US

1 Detroit
2 Washington, D.C.
3 Boston
4 Seattle
5 Newark, New Jersey
6 Chicago
7 San Francisco
8 #Raleigh, North Carolina
9 Salt Lake City
10 Kansas City, Missouri

www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/these-1...
These 10 US cities have the ‘stickiest’ downtowns
Frequency and length of visits by city residents make these 10 downtowns stand apart, Gensler says.
www.smartcitiesdive.com
June 11, 2026 at 7:57 PM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Urban Heat Islands.

www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...
Green Infrastructure: How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Dangerous Urban Heat Islands
Image credits: Pexels Summer in Phoenix. Summer in Chicago. Summer in Houston. The experience across US cities is converging on a common reality: walking outside feels like stepping into an oven. Conc...
www.yahoo.com
June 11, 2026 at 12:03 AM
mitchellsilver.bsky.social
#Raleigh's Dix Park continues to get positive reviews. @Raleighgov @dixpark.bsky.social

www.islands.com/2187278/doro...
North Carolina's Once-Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital Is Now A Thriving Urban Park In Raleigh - Islands
Raleigh is one of the most forward-thinking cities in the United States, and the tumultuous history of this gorgeous urban park is yet another example of that.
www.islands.com
June 7, 2026 at 8:13 PM