Three researchers are joining forces for Edit the City!, a new urban planning project that will combine open data and insights from community members with a goal to create a more inclusive urban planning experience.

Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman of THINK.urban, Marisa Denker of Connect The Dots and Stephen Larrick of Stae were awarded one of seven grants from the Knight Foundation to work on their project. Edit the City! joins urban planning simulator SIM-PHL as one of three data-focused concepts in Philadelphia to receive the grant funding.

Edit the City! seeks to include small business owners and residents in the vision planning process for the South Street Headhouse District, a nonprofit that facilitates “physical improvements, marketing and promotional initiatives designed to enhance the image and visibility of the business community” within the historic South Philly neighborhood. The initiative will solicit recommendations for changes from the public and result in an open data set of district needs and project ideas. Some of those ideas will also be piloted as “tactical interventions” addressing pedestrianization, COVID-19 safety and anti-racist solidarity, per a press release.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE