Some communities have turned to tactical urbanism to adapt our infrastructure, accommodate safe physical distancing, and support a new kind of public life. Here’s how:

Tactical urbanism interventions designed to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus also improve air quality, reduce noise levels, encourage physical activity, reduce the risk of traffic accidents, benefit mental health and prevent non-communicable diseases. They also promote social equity—provided that the health of vulnerable populations and essential workers is prioritised—and can reduce the demand for health services.

The city is coming up with a plan for winter that will see snowbanks removed quicker than usual in high-traffic curbside pickup areas, such as Wellington West, Montreal Road, Elgin Street, St. Joseph Boulevard and Bank Street.

Produced by Mary Wiens, this is a 9 minute video.

As we enter the seventh month of the pandemic and days shorten, small tokens of kindness help us connect and support each other, coalition says

1. Use empty retail spaces and 1st & 2nd floors to encourage independent shops and to incubate a recycle, repair and regenerate artisanal industry to create a healthy mix of well-designed work/live spaces.
2. Use available micro spaces to set up pocket parks, as in cities such as Tokyo, Barcelona and San Francisco.
3. Convert more streets to pedestrian use only, widen pavements on shared streets, and create better links to public transport.
4. Strengthen alliances with other like-minded groups in Bradford to engage with Council to ensure a generous level of consultation well before important planning decisions are made.
5. Work with community groups in Bradford to create activity spaces that can be enjoyed by all the city’s communities.
6. Join with other groups to exchange ideas and learn from experiences.

This UK-based report aims to give Business Improvement Districts information on how the industry has responded during the COVID-19 epidemic, allow individual BID managers to learn from the experiences of the industry across the country, visualize and then enable planning for the changed business environment in the ‘new normal’, and leverage change with local and national government to allow for further development of BIDs, both within their locations and across the UK.

Station North is designated as an arts district in Baltimore, known for its restaurants, theaters and art galleries. A patio installation has been created to be used as outdoor dining space for the nearby restaurants. There’s also a bright blue promenade behind the seating area so people can walk around diners, instead of weaving their way through tables set up on the sidewalk.

Public spaces in downtown Vancouver becoming washrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic, as homeless residents ‘have no other options’

So far, the fridges out in front of Ten are filled with neatly organized healthy produce as well as dried goods, bread and milk. Guidelines posted in the Instagram story of an official account connected to the fridge project instruct donors on how to neatly place their donations, and not to donate anything they wouldn’t buy at the store themselves.

Among the lessons we take from COVID-19 should be the importance of preventing disconnection and improving health outcomes in our cities through more thoughtful investment in our civic commons. We are more aware than ever of the importance of spending time outside for both physical and mental well-being. Beyond providing better access to warm clothing and adequate housing in the winter, this post describes ways that we can make winter more liveable by making our outdoor spaces more inviting, so that we can create community and vibrancy post-pandemic and year-round.

Active design in a winter context aims to take into account the characteristics and constraints imposed by the cold season on the experience lived in public spaces. The objective is to develop local living environments that promote the practice of physical activity, break through isolation and reveal the identity and inclusive nature of winter.

The guide is available in French for download free of charge.

Another $30 million will go towards running events and cultural activities safely over coming months, offering a much-needed salve to Melbourne’s arts community.

The Regina Downtown Business Improvement District unveiled the 2020 edition of the Urban Canvas project.

13 artists were selected to produce a unique design for doors in the back alley between Hamilton and Scarth Streets in Regina’s downtown.

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To date, Chicago has received more than 640 submissions with winter outdoor dining solutions aiming to help restaurants as safety concerns restrict indoor dining during the pandemic. In August, the city announced a contest as fall approached with winter’s chill lurking. Restaurants — in lieu of a governmental industry-specific bailout — are searching for creative ways to continue outdoor dining season and keep their businesses afloat.

Volunteers needed to provide design assistance to help local restaurants and small businesses re-imagine their open spaces.

As COVID19 restrictions and public safety concerns limit indoor activities, restaurants, entertainment, public events, social gatherings and more have turned to the outdoors. This has been a great lifeline during the spring and summer but will become challenging during the colder, darker winter months. This program seeks ideas and designs for quickly implementable, low cost interventions to drive visitors back to Main Street that will encourage them to stay longer and patronize area restaurants and businesses. Final designs will then be published in an open-source “Winter Places” activation guide book with full credit given to the respective designers.

Running until Sept. 27, the inaugural Black Foodie Week is a free virtual event promoting Afro-Caribbean cooking in the city with the goal of getting people to eat good food, and support Black-owned businesses during COVID-19

Toronto is ready to welcome us back. From hitting the patio to supporting local art, restaurants and shops, it’s time to get out and do the things we love. Experience ActiveTO’s newly expanded cycling network, BigArtTO’s digital art projections. Dine out on countless CafeTO pop-up patios and find hidden gems all over the city with StrollTO’s new exploration guides. Because when we shine, our city shines. And when we do the things we love, we #ShowLoveTO.

This group has created a local currency so that the contributors’ investment can be returned directly to participating businesses. This currency will be available in paper or digital form through the Wyse Wallet app. 
The project will consolidate the achievements of the commercial arteries and allow citizens to participate concretely in the recovery by investing in hyperlocal entrepreneurship. Let us be # solidairespournosartères!

Research and interviews conducted with Downtown stakeholders between May and August revealed four key drivers of community resiliency, select issues that impact those drivers, proven strategies to
overcome those issues and business examples showcasing those strategies in action.
ʃ Fostering Innovation
ʃ Enhancing Inclusivity
ʃ Strengthening Cultural Vitality
ʃ Developing Interconnectivity

It is also a chance for downtown business owners to draw an audience.

The City of Calgary announced Thursday it will work with Google Canada to help 90 artists and small businesses set up an online marketplace with the help of MBA students. Applications are open to small, independent businesses that are registered, have a commercial or home-based location, have fewer than 10 employees — or fewer than 25 if a restaurant or bar — and is not a corporate chain or franchise. All artists are also welcome to apply.