Since the 1980s, the Dallas suburb of Plano has attracted some of the country’s biggest corporate headquarters and established itself as a hub for major employers. But how did Plano revamp to meet the goals of a changing economy and a changing community? The city made a pivot that has been echoed in growing cities around the country: a major shift toward investing in parks and activating green space.

Located on the site of the former Ritz Theater, the South Grand Community Improvement District in St. Louis spearheaded the transformation of Ritz Park in 2014 from vacant lot to popular gathering spot for movies, concerts, plays, markets, and festivals. Unfortunately, the new space was devoid of shade, making it too uncomfortable for daytime use during the summer.

Representatives from ULI Technical Assistance Efforts Share Updates on Implementation of Recommendations to Make Their Communities More Resilient

A general session at the ULI Carolinas Meeting, moderated by Risa Wilkerson of Healthy Places by Design, showcased how the convergence of the built environment, health and equity forms a complex web that impacts every facet of human life. Dr. Malo Andrew Hutson, a distinguished academic at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, provided a deep dive into how residential segregation and the built environment contribute to health disparities.

A new ULI report shares promising insights and examples of zoning regulations from across the United States.

For decades, highways nationwide were built to connect roads and cities but often came with the added consequence of cutting off the already disenfranchised.

ULI members and community leaders are creating parks across North America that support health, social equity, climate resilience, and real estate success. Read profiles of selected ULI Americas Awards for Excellence winners and finalists.

Five ULI District Councils across the United States have been selected to participate in a new program focused on advancing action on equity in parks and open space over a 12-month period. Through the District Council Cohort for Park Equity, local teams will engage in two-day Technical Assistance Panels that consider specific questions related to park equity and access in their communities. The program is supported by The JPB Foundation.

This morning, 2021 ULI Fall meeting attendees toured the area surrounding one of the oldest professional ballparks in the United States, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, which has been home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team for more than a century. When the Ricketts family took over Cubs ownership in 2009, it decided not only to rehabilitate the aging stadium, but also to turn a former parking lot next door into a mixed-use entertainment district bringing office, retail, and hotel uses to the area, as well as much-needed open space called Gallagher Way.

ULI MEMBER–ONLY CONTENT: What is coming for travel services, concessions, commercial development, and logistics?