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Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social
8.5K followers 252 following 183 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.

PostsRepliesMedia
Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Warming cities can't afford to sacrifice their urban #parks. www.scmp.com/opinion/asia...
scmp.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org flip.it/XIYp_W
flip.it
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The lingering importance of public spaces #parks ##publicspace flip.it/Kybo83
flip.it
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
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org flip.it/x.x_8f
flip.it
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The Oakline - connecting Downtown #Raleigh to Dix Park gains momentum. www.axios.com/local/raleig...
axios.com
$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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Study: Legalizing single-family home conversions could nearly double LA's new housing www.planetizen.com/news/2026/06...
planetizen.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The Happiest Cities of 2026. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/r...
nytimes.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Excited about this project becoming a reality. Connecting Downtown to Dix Park. #Oakline #Raleigh #parks, #publicspace #placemaking www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...
newsobserver.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
NYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040 flip.it/Pf8cx0
flip.it
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Is this the first wave of de-gentrification? flip.it/zG6lH9
flip.it
Is this the first wave of de-gentrification?
Valencia, Temescal, H Street and the fickle fortunes of the gentrified neighborhood.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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-...
thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com
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
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Extreme weather is weakening social connections flip.it/WqCYry
flip.it
Extreme weather is weakening social connections
Extreme heat, flooding and other weather events are increasing isolation and fraying social ties.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
What makes a neighborhood truly pedestrian-friendly? The factors that encourage people to walk flip.it/B4PZSj
flip.it
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
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/r...
nytimes.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
planetizen.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I found this article very endearing. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/w...
nytimes.com
The Comforting Resurgence of ‘Grandma Hobbies’
In search of calm and community, new generations are learning centuries-old skills.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
This will be interesting to watch. #parks www.audacy.com/krld/news/lo...
audacy.com
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
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Places need to be fun! www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
planetizen.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
planetizen.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
‘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…
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
2026's Best Cities for Outdoor Parties. #NYC takes the top spot. www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies...
lawnstarter.com
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...
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Reposted by Mitchell Silver
PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
“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
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
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...
smartcitiesdive.com
These 10 US cities have the ‘stickiest’ downtowns
Frequency and length of visits by city residents make these 10 downtowns stand apart, Gensler says.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Urban Heat Islands. www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...
yahoo.com
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...
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
#Raleigh's Dix Park continues to get positive reviews. @Raleighgov @dixpark.bsky.social www.islands.com/2187278/doro...
islands.com
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.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
#Raleigh wants to plant more trees. We can do this! www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...
newsobserver.com
Raleigh wants to plant 24,000 trees by its 240th birthday. There’s a problem.
Raleigh’s tree-planting program was set to begin in the new fiscal year that begins July 1, but the budget does not include any of the $650,000 its first year could cost.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone. www.planetizen.com/features/137...
planetizen.com
Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone
A new book profiles women leaders shaping the future of modern cities. These are some of their stories.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
How urban design can deter crime @planetizen.bsky.social flip.it/eGH5XG
flip.it
How urban design can deter crime
Well-designed public spaces and good lighting can prevent crime and make residents feel safer.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type flip.it/rFDVno
flip.it
Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type
A new study has shown that more vegetation is not automatically better.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e... #parks
vancouversun.com
Opinion: A city that forgets its parks forgets its people
Public spaces where people meet, move and build community are some of the last affordable spaces left in a city where so much is priced out.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Good read. @dixpark in #Raleigh featured. www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/how-4-c...
smartcitiesdive.com
How 4 cities are reshaping parks into strategic climate and community infrastructure
Urban parks can boost resilience, improve stormwater management and advance neighborhood equity, strengthening social cohesion in the process, the parks’ developers say.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Let’s Get Serious About Fixing Our Sidewalks flip.it/BemFBz
flip.it
Let’s Get Serious About Fixing Our Sidewalks
They’re a crucial public resource, but cities don’t manage or maintain them well. There is plenty they could be doing.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
#Placemaking and creating new experiences at Fort Monroe, VA People share ideas for new experiences, offerings at Fort Monroe share.google/TxIgMjsxESZH... #Parks #publicspace @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social @cityparksalliance.bsky.social
share.google
People share ideas for new experiences, offerings at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe could shape the trajectory of the region and state, says CEO Scott Martin.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/04...
planetizen.com
Only one US city makes the Happy City Index top 50
The list is topped by Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Geneva.
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Reposted by Mitchell Silver
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
NEW: “Our ultimate goal is better decision-making about cities, so we want to influence decision-makers. But to do that, we have to reach & influence everyone.” READ & SHARE our new @urbantruth.bsky.social initiative profiled in @momentummag.bsky.social! #UrbanTruth momentummag.com/urban-truth-...
“Gas prices? What gas prices?” better cities create choices.

Via the Urban Truth Collecrive

Image of people riding bikes in a protected bike-lane in Paris
“We could never do THAT in OUR city!”

Leadership doesn’t make excuses. Via the Urban Truth Collective

Image of people walking on a wonderful pedestrianized street in central Montreal
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
www.axios.com/local/charlo...
axios.com
See designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.
See designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
I’m pleased to share that I’ve joined the Board of Project for Public Spaces. I look forward to contributing to the organization’s mission to create vibrant, people-centered public spaces for all. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.pps.org.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Greening school playgrounds can improve quality of life in cities and help deal with climate change flip.it/J69sfQ
flip.it
Greening school playgrounds can improve quality of life in cities and help deal with climate change
Adapting urban spaces to tackle climate change through nature-based solutions, especially in school playgrounds and environments, benefits both children and society as a whole. This is one of the main...
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Designing Streets Through the Lens of Care flip.it/-ugPGw
flip.it
Designing Streets Through the Lens of Care
Interview with Eduarda Aun, from GDCI. Rethink urban design: and prioritize children's needs to create vibrant, inclusive streets.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026 www.planetizen.com/news/2026/01...
planetizen.com
6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026
These U.S. cities are reducing or removing car traffic to make major streets more people-friendly.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
NYC’s Prospect Park is Getting a $68 Million ‘Bluebelt’ #parks flip.it/ij2Xvq
flip.it
NYC’s Prospect Park is Getting a $68 Million ‘Bluebelt’
The city plans to upgrade the park’s drainage infrastructure to channel more stormwater into its lake and other drainage ponds and reduce flooding risk.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Utah unveils ambitious 3,100-mile #bike network. www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11...
planetizen.com
Utah Unveils 'Ambitious' 3,100-mile Bike Network
The complete network would put a paved bike trail within one mile of 95% of Utah residents.
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Reposted by Mitchell Silver
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
ICYMI, this STARTER PACK is my team-up with celebrated climate scientist @katharinehayhoe.com, and it’s full of people & organizations that specifically embrace the overlap between better cities and climate action! Please follow them, and help spread the pack around! #ClimateAction #UrbanistShoutOut
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Delivery Culture is changing Urban Design #urbandesign www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11...
planetizen.com
How the Rise of Delivery Culture is Changing Urban Design
Curb management is quickly becoming a key part of urban planning as delivery vans, ride share vehicles, shared mobility devices, transit, and private cars compete for scarce curb space.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Urban Parks Lower Crime and Improve Community Health. #parks @cityparksalliance.bsky.social @nrpa.org news.ua.edu/2025/10/urba...
news.ua.edu
Research Finds Urban Parks Connected to Lower Crime, Better Community Health
University of Alabama led research suggests a new understanding of how urban parks are connected to community health.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
In Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Beyond, a Surprising new Housing Model is Making #Gentrification Pay Back www.planetizen.com/news/2025/10...
planetizen.com
In Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Beyond, a Surprising new Housing Model is Making Gentrification Pay Back
Each Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust focuses on preventing displacement and capturing the benefits of rising property values for neighborhood residents.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Parks and public spaces are our outdoor living rooms and we need more benches, not less. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/n...
nytimes.com
The Slow Death of the New York City Public Bench
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
11 Beautiful, Flourishing Downtowns Brought Back To Life After Being Ruined By Freeways flip.it/zL-bOx
flip.it
11 Beautiful, Flourishing Downtowns Brought Back To Life After Being Ruined By Freeways - Islands
Cities like Boston, Seoul, and Paris have torn down freeways, which revitalized neighborhoods and led to economic growth, lower crime, and better health.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Enjoyed my time at @civiccommonsus.bsky.social in #Cincinnati for Civic Commons Studio #10. Local Power, Lasting Impcact. I had the privilege moderating a Q&A with Mayor Atfab Pureval. Impressive leader. Photo credit - Jason Su.
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Mitchell Silver @mitchellsilver.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
#Raleigh and the Power of 10 Shaping the City. raleighmag.com/2025/09/powe... @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social #placemaking #RaleighMagazine
raleighmag.com
Raleigh Urban Growth: Power of 10 Shaping the City
A look at how Raleigh’s placemaking strategy transforms people-centered urban growth centers into vibrant destinations through 2050.
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