Sound Of Your City: Construction, Food Truck, Parks
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NPR Cities: Urban Life In The 21st Century
What do we want our cities to be in the Urban Century? The NPR Cities Project aims to capture the vibrancy of urban life today.
Wes Breitenbach of Knoxville, Tenn., says the Tennessee River offers everything from moments of solitude to live music, "right in the heart of downtown."
We Got The Beat: The 'Heart' Of Your City
When you think about where you live, what sights and sounds come to mind? The coffee shop on the corner? The park down the street? We asked you to show us what makes your city thump and pulse, and here is some of what you shared. But we want to fill our heart with city love, so send us more!
This nighttime photograph taken from the International Space Station shows much of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Parts of two Russian vehicles parked at the orbital outpost can also be seen in the frame.
The City As Infestation
The vast web of geometries traced out in light shows you cities as a kind of infestation. They're like living networks spreading across the planet.
Bernard Goutier, 25, has served time in prison twice. He's now learning construction skills with Emerge Connecticut, which offers paid on-the-job training, literacy classes and support groups to ex-offenders.
'Million-Dollar Blocks' Map Incarceration's Costs WNPR
Many cities spend millions on prisons annually, and often those moving in and out of jail come from the same neighborhoods. The Justice Mapping Center maps those costs, block by block, to help policymakers visualize where those public dollars are going — and determine if they could be better spent.
Aurora, Colo., Tries To Capitalize On Its Ethnic Riches()
September 27, 2012 CPRThe city is surprisingly diverse, with more than 90 languages spoken in its public schools. Local officials and residents are working to turn that diversity into an economic advantage — but creating a sense of community among such diverse groups is no small challenge.
With Hats And Umbrellas, Senegalese Fill A City Niche()
September 18, 2012 In many cities around the world, certain ethnic groups are often associated with particular occupations. Cheikh Fall, like many other Senegalese immigrants in New York, makes his living as a street vendor. He lives by the motto, "Work like you're never gonna die, and worship like you will die tomorrow."
Racial, Regional Divide Still Haunt Detroit's Progress()
September 11, 2012 In Detroit, the predominantly black city and predominantly white suburbs have feuded for decades over finances and control of assets. A recent suburban vote to help a city institution offers hope for better cooperation. But old tensions are still roiling over a proposal to put a beloved city park under state oversight.
Bridging The Gap Between Two Neighborhoods()
September 4, 2012 In the nation's capital, park planners have drawn up an ambitious plan to transform an old bridge into an active recreation space. If realized, the park would offer a physical and symbolic link between two very different communities.
A Twitter Conversation: #NPRCities Roundtable 2()
August 28, 2012 As Hurricane Isaac bears down on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, some urban thinkers joined us on Twitter to explore what cities can do to prepare for disasters.
Parks Vie For Space In Miami's Forest Of Condos()
August 28, 2012 WLRNMiami may bring to mind images of the sea and palm trees, but according to park advocates, it also suffers from a lack of green space. That can make it difficult for downtown residents to find places to enjoy the outdoors. Advocates are trying to remedy that — in the face of ongoing downtown development.
Boston Plans For 'Near-Term Risk' Of Rising Tides()
August 21, 2012 WBURIn Boston, scientists are predicting that climate change will lead to dramatic sea level rise, and more frequent flooding, around the city. Officials are studying the potential impact on roads and sewers and are asking waterfront developers to plan for increased flooding.
13.7: Cosmos And Culture
The City As Engine: Energy, Entropy And The Triumph Of Disorder()
August 21, 2012 The second law of thermodynamics is a kind of warning to cities and civilization. No matter how clever we are, disorder, waste and pollution will always follow from our work organizing societies into cities.
Scorching Phoenix Plans For An Even Hotter Future()
August 14, 2012 KJZZThe Arizona city already logs more days over 100 degrees than any U.S. city, and climate researchers predict Phoenix will grow hotter still in the coming decades. Planners are taking the projections seriously, and are looking for ways to adapt the city and its residents to a hotter, drier reality.
Wu-Where? Opportunity Now In China's Inland Cities()
August 7, 2012 Millions of Chinese are moving from the countryside to fast-growing cities that are home to significant economic activity. Central China's Wuhan, home to about 10 million, is one of these places, a city little-known outside the country that's attracting foreigners and Chinese alike.
Planet Money
Does New York City Need More Taxis?()
July 31, 2012 The City of New York wants to add 2,000 more taxi cabs onto Manhattan's streets. That would make it easier to hail a cab, but it might make it harder to get where you're going.
A City Faces Its 'Berlin Wall': An Interstate Highway()
July 24, 2012 WXXIInterstate 81 has helped to make Syracuse, N.Y., a "20-minute city," where you can drive anywhere you need to quickly and easily. But the highway has also physically divided neighborhoods, separating the haves from the have-nots. Now, like other cities around the country with urban highways, Syracuse officials are rethinking whether aging interstates are worth preserving.
Motorists To Urban Planners: Stay In Your Lane()
July 18, 2012 As many cities add bus and bike lanes, raise parking rates and increase traffic enforcement with cameras, some motorists feel like they're under attack. But advocates of these changes say they give people more options for getting around and make cities safer.
Drive Time: Commuting In American Cities()
July 18, 2012 Americans' methods for commuting to work vary by city. Use this interactive map to explore how residents in different cities get to their jobs — by driving alone, carpooling or taking mass transit — and how long those journeys last.
A Twitter Conversation: #NPRCities Roundtable ()
July 10, 2012 Several urban thinkers joined us on Twitter, including Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution, Carol Coletta of ArtPlace America, writer and blogger Aaron Renn, The Atlantic Cities editor Sommer Mathis and Diana Lind of Next American City.
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