Down to Earth’s Post

Friends groups make a difference! To learn more about friends groups and how to get involved by visiting the PPFF website at PaParksAndForests.org

The National Park Foundation’s $1B fundraising campaign is live! It would be hard for any organization to compete with the stunning material the parks have to work with, but it was important to create a digital experience of the Case that suited their ambitious campaign. This partner was a dream to work with, and National Park Foundation's campaign site is an all-time favorite. Pinch me. "At the heart of our collaboration lies a commitment to not just showcase but celebrate the breathtaking beauty and boundless opportunities our national parks offer. We approached this digital journey not merely as a website project but as an invitation to explore, discover, and be inspired." - George Owens - Beyond the Photo: Our goal was to do more than display stunning photographs; each image is a gateway to the wonders beyond the frame. With techniques like multi-layered parallax effects, we created a sense of depth and discovery, encouraging users to explore further. - The Unexpected: We pushed the envelope with dynamic animations and interactive features to keep users engaged and surprised. From the captivating introductory narrative on the homepage to subtle flowing animations throughout the site, our aim was to delight at every turn. - From Darkness to Light: Structurally, we contrasted the current challenges facing our parks against a backdrop of darkness, guiding visitors to a brighter, hopeful vision of the future. This journey from adversity to aspiration not only informs but also inspires action and optimism. Shout out to our partners at Marts&Lundy and Ron Arena for bringing us in and to the team at NPF Kirsten Ogren, Usha Subramanian, and Jennifer Harris, Ph.D. It was a pleasure to serve as your partners. Case Design: Brit Dallas Website/Interaction designer and developer: George Owens Explore the full story and see how we’ve merged creativity with purpose in our case study: https://lnkd.in/eB8AUQ8z

Neighbors, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropy are coming together to rebuild and reimagine Lake Street, four years after civil unrest ravaged the multicultural corridor in the wake of George Floyd's murder. We're proud to support this critical work alongside the Lake Street Council and our Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund partners.   A few years ago, the historic Coliseum building at 27th & E. Lake was slated for demolition. Today, our grantee partners at Redesign, Inc. are preparing for the Coliseum's Juneteenth (June 19) grand reopening. Starting this summer, the iconic building will serve as a community business hub providing commercial, retail, office, and incubator space for local BIPOC professionals and BIPOC-led firms, an event center, and an on-site restaurant and bar.   Two blocks away at 29th & E. Lake, our grantee partners at COPAL MN are looking ahead to July 2025, when they'll break ground on the Latino Center for Community Engagement (LCCE), a gathering ground for community events that will include a cultural exchange program, an art gallery, resource center, cafe, greenhouse, and leasable space for organizations and businesses that support Latine communities.   From Bde Maka Ska to the Mississippi, community efforts to rebuild Lake Street are coming to fruition. And, we know that there's more work to do. We remain committed to supporting these ongoing efforts and look forward to continued cross-sector collaboration to advance a vibrant and thriving future for Lake Street.   Read about Lake Street's recovery and the work that lies ahead: https://lnkd.in/gjD-xKjJ #MyLakeStreet #VisitLakeStreet #WeLoveLakeStreet #CommunityDevelopment #Minneapolis

Facing steep rental increases? Water Way NC and New H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) are stepping in to offer much-needed relief and support to our community members in these challenging times. Discover how Waterway NC is making a difference in the full article #portcitydaily - your go-to resource for understanding how we're battling rental hikes and uplifting our community. 👇👇 https://lnkd.in/deG67-u6

Indianapolis' tree canopy has dropped from 33% to 29% in the last decade, impacting air quality, temperature, and even safety in our neighborhoods. But there’s good news! KIB and our partners are planting 4,500 new trees over the next four years to reverse this trend. 🌳 Want to be part of the solution? Join us by volunteering, donating, or advocating for greener spaces in our city. Together, we can make Indy cleaner, greener, and healthier for everyone. Read more on our blog: https://bit.ly/4duimli City of Indianapolis | Citizens Energy Group

The community ownership movement keeps growing in Scotland. More and more, Scottish communities are buying land and buildings for public use to create new and exciting public spaces. Spurred on by the land reform agenda driven by Holyrood, public authorities in Scotland are encouraged to transfer unused assets to local people. There are successful community buyouts all across Scotland such as churches converted into community centres and police stations converted into affordable and energy-efficient homes. Do you think more towns and cities could benefit from community buyout projects? https://lnkd.in/eGnFKTuX 

Garden Town partners, East Herts District Council, are to launch a series of community forums that will give residents more information on housing developments planned for the local area. Starting this month, the forums will bring planners, local councillors, developers and residents together under one roof to discuss future plans for East Herts. The Garden Town villages in Gilston will be the first development up for discussion on Tuesday 27 February, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall, CM20 2RB. And you don’t have to be an East Herts resident to attend, anyone living across the wider #Harlow & Gilston Garden Town area or has an interest in the project is welcome on the evening. Further community forums will be held approximately every two months with Stortford Fields, Hert3 and Ware2 all expected to feature this year. Councillor Vicky Glover-Ward, East Herts Executive Member for Planning and Growth, said: “We know that planning is a major area of interest and concern for the residents of East Herts. “That is why improving how we communicate and share information around development is a key priority for our joint administration. “We want people and communities to actively engage in shaping the places where they live, work and play and effective community engagement is key to this.” #transport #housing #newhousing #development #community #environment #greeninfrastructure #infrastructure #planning #publicsector #walking #cycling #travel

There are over 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S., mostly in communities of color and low-income areas, just waiting to be transformed into thriving community spaces! ✅ But transforming a brownfield into a community center, maker spaces, playgrounds, and parks, is no easy feat. It does not happen overnight, and certainly not alone. ✅ If you’re wondering how this process works, take a look at our Brown to Blooming guide, which walks you through the many steps and considerations involved in taking a brownfield-to-open space project from inception to reality. https://lnkd.in/g4rd6sMK #brownfields #landreuse

My work is my passion. I'm not always online, but always active. Right now, I'm blessed to be working at both grassroots level and macro level. Making visible and tangible changes, small and large - by growing food, community, connecting people to land and self discovery, watching nature's healing powers right before my eyes - and also working with a multi-disciplinary team of highly talented and skilled researchers and professionals to tackle big questions like feasibility and scalability if GGR methods, creating robust MRV frameworks to meet Net Zero targets, and engaging arts and humanities in the GGR conversation. We need spaces to explore our connection to nature, but also to learn about it. We need spaces to experiment with food and learn how to grow - how to enrich soil with Biochar or crop rotate for health. We need the scientist, and the farmer. It is with that love and passion that I write this post. A local Bristol Farm that I've come to know and love (Bridge Farm Community) has been at risk of loss due to financial losses and planning delays and, a pandemic. Exhaustive conversations by our directing team, and think tank sessions with brilliant Bristolians have led to a possible solution. Today I'm excited to share the opportunity that we all have to KEEP Bridge Farm Community in community ownership once and for all. By raising £100,000 in match funding, we will qualify for a Community Ownership Fund (CoF) so that Bristol Community Land Trust (BCLT) can purchase the farm from the pioneer lenders, ensuring it stays in community. By reading the story and history of this special land, and donating to the crowdfunder, you can help keep secure the future of the farm and keep it as a space for learning, growing, community, and connection for years to come. As we are learning, we make a better future by investing in it! More details, history, context: https://lnkd.in/ep6gtbA3

NO MORE MEAN STREETS! Holborn’s highways to become beautiful green and sociable spaces. New Oxford Street - A green sanctuary, Great Russell Street – A boulevard for The British Museum, Great Ormond Street – A healthy hospital street, Great Queen Street – A lively and social street, Bedford Place – A historic green street, Theobalds Road – A high street not a through street. And more.... 18 STARTER AND 16 MAJOR PROJECTS put forward. Engagement conversations happening with residents, businesses and visitors and lots of practical considerations. Visionary ideas developed by London Borough of Camden Norman Rourke Pryme LDA Design Urban Symbiotics Central District Alliance Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Masonic Charitable Foundation The Bedford Estates Bloomsbury and more... This is all part of The Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood Strategy and Holborn Vision SPD, covering a 120 Ha area. The LN project is expected to cost around £40m and will be funded from a range of sources including Transport for London (TfL), council capital investment, s106 and third-party contributions. The LN project was approved by TfL in 2019 under their Liveable Neighbourhood Programme, but paused for a while during the pandemic. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR… greener streets, cleaner air, safer crossings, pocket parks, biodiverse rain gardens, safe pedestrian and cycle connections, climate resilient trees and planting, play on the way, long table dining, comfortable seating, alfresco dining, urban games, new types of concession, events and activation… and lots more (ideas welcome)... Also selected by The West End Streets Steering Group (WESt), run by BusinessLDN, as its new public realm project to champion More info and links to engagement visit - https://lnkd.in/eyaHqzRc #publicrealm #publicspace #biodiversity #inclusive #engagement #cycling #activetravel #walking #suds #community #holborn #nomoremeanstreets