May 2004

St. Petersburg Times To invite the public in, the library in Clearwater includes a café, atrium, rooftop terrace, and majestic views of the Intracoastal Waterway. (May 2)

Detroit News The Michigan Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to pursue agritourism. A part of the effort is recruiting farm markets, cider mills, pumpkin patches, wineries and other farm-based businesses from across the state to be included in the department’s 2004-2005 Farm Market and U-Pick Directory. (May 2)

Plain Dealer As part of the Euclid Corridor project, more than $80 million in federal transportation money will flow into Cleveland for a five-mile bus route that connects Public Square with University Circle. (May 2)

Oakland Tribune A program at McClymonds High School in Oakland has students getting involved in urban planning and design in the community. They participated in transforming a neglected mini park into a vibrant community place. (May 4)

The Villager New York Senators Hilary Clinton and Chuck Schumer are helping to overcome the Trust’s serious budget shortfall. (May 4)

Rocky Mountain News Aimed at putting people ahead of cars, the Downtown Multimodal Access Plan includes adding a second shuttle bus system, wider sidewalks and more two-way streets, and will cost between $55 million and $90 million. (May 5)

New York Times The East Harlem Business Capital Corporation, a nonprofit group in charge of redeveloping the market, would like to return it to its original old five-block size, when it was both a bustling commercial bazaar and a community meeting place. (May 10)

Evening Standard Air pollution levels in London have significantly fallen as a result of reduced traffic due to congestion charging. (May 13)

Salt Lake Tribune Known for top-notch recreational biking, transportation master plans are calling for improvements to street-biking, including bicycle lanes and resurfaced streets. (May 14)

LA Times The abandoned overhead railway is an eyesore to some, but untapped potential for a unique open space to others. (May 15)

Chicago Tribune A backwards Illinois law creates disincentives for communities to designate bike lanes and routes. (May 16)

The Ottawa Citizen Looking to create a community with very active street life, dense urban forms, and less reliance on the car, Ottawa is about to revive 65 hectares of riverfront real estate. (May 17)

New York Times Congress and the White House are wrangling over how much the federal government should spend on highways. (May 20)

New York Times While famous city parks, like Central Park and Bryant Park, are well-funded by private donations, the City has been encouraging donors to contribute to parks in neighborhoods that serve low-income people. (May 21)

The Business Journal Henry's Farmers Market, a fresh foods grocery store featuring healthy living products and natural foods, will create 100 jobs for the local economy. (May 21)

Chicago Tribune The Southern tradition of towns clustering around the courthouse and the courthouse square is on the rise. (May 22)

Newsday Agritourism, which includes everything from operating a gift shop to turning part of a working farm into a bed-and-breakfast, promotes agricultural products and gives farmers, who often struggle with the ups and downs of the markets, a way to come out ahead. (May 23)

NY Newsday The debate over whether or not to locate a new football stadium on Manhattan’s West Side riverfront continues. (May 26)

Philadelphia Inquirer New libraries across the country demonstrate that libraries are still valued as social community places. (May 30)