Mitchell Silver (@mitchellsilver.bsky.social)

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

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.

8.5K followers 252 following185 posts

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

The Greenest Cities in America, Ranked. www.mentalfloss.com/geography/ci...

mentalfloss.comThe Greenest Cities in America, RankedWant to know if your hometown prioritizes the planet? A new study reveals America's most eco-friendly cities, with the Bay Area leading the nation in sustainabl

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

Brokenhearted by the news, but grateful for his service, wisdom and mentorship. Rest in Peace @nycparks Commissioner. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/a...

nytimes.comThe City Leader Who Revived Central Park Dies at 85Gordon J. Davis was New York City’s first Black parks commissioner and one of the most effective. He also led Lincoln Center.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

13 Sept

Warming cities can't afford to sacrifice their urban #parks. www.scmp.com/opinion/asia...

scmp.comOpinion | Warming cities can’t afford to sacrifice their urban parksGreen spaces lower urban temperatures and boost quality of life. Cities may be short of space, but trading parks for concrete is a bad bargain.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

9 Sept

Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org flip.it/XIYp_W

flip.itRedesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.OrgDoctors are increasingly mandating time in nature to treat patients' chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and sedentary lifestyles.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 Sept

The lingering importance of public spaces #parks ##publicspace flip.it/Kybo83

flip.itGlobe editorial: The lingering importance of public spacesParks are not just the leftover gaps between buildings, but a place for citizens to encounter one another

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 Sept

Redesigning Urban Green Spaces for Nature-Based Healthcare | Earth.Org flip.it/x.x_8f

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

2 Sept

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 ParkThe elevated walkway would travel between the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and Dix Park.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

31 Aug

Study: Legalizing single-family home conversions could nearly double LA's new housing www.planetizen.com/news/2026/06...

planetizen.comStudy: Legalizing single-family home conversions could nearly double LA's new housingResearch shows that making it easier to turn single-family homes into multiple units could unlock tens of thousands of new units per year.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

30 Aug

The Happiest Cities of 2026. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/r...

nytimes.comThe Happiest Cities of 2026A study mined data on emotional, physical and financial health, as well as community and environmental factors, to find the happiest Americans.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

28 Aug

Excited about this project becoming a reality. Connecting Downtown to Dix Park. #Oakline #Raleigh #parks, #publicspace #placemaking www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

newsobserver.comNew idea emerges for elevated walkway connecting downtown Raleigh and Dix ParkThe Oakline, unveiled at Downtown Raleigh Alliance event this week, is touted as both visionary and realistic.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

25 Aug

NYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040 flip.it/Pf8cx0

flip.itNYC will add nearly 10,000 acres of ‘urban forest’ by 2040The city aims to increase canopy tree coverage by nearly 30% to cool streets and decrease heat-related illness.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

23 Aug

Is this the first wave of de-gentrification? flip.it/zG6lH9

flip.itIs this the first wave of de-gentrification?Valencia, Temescal, H Street and the fickle fortunes of the gentrified neighborhood.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

14 Aug

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.comBezos 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

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

10 Aug

Extreme weather is weakening social connections flip.it/WqCYry

flip.itExtreme weather is weakening social connectionsExtreme heat, flooding and other weather events are increasing isolation and fraying social ties.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

10 Aug

What makes a neighborhood truly pedestrian-friendly? The factors that encourage people to walk flip.it/B4PZSj

flip.itWhat 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

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

9 Aug

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/r...

nytimes.comHow 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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

6 Aug

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...

planetizen.comHow urban design makes the world unsafe for women — and how we can change thatAn industrial designer explains how cities, cars and other everyday items could better serve women.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

6 Aug

I found this article very endearing. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/w...

nytimes.comThe Comforting Resurgence of ‘Grandma Hobbies’In search of calm and community, new generations are learning centuries-old skills.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 Aug

This will be interesting to watch. #parks www.audacy.com/krld/news/lo...

audacy.comDallas considers billboard ads in city parks to help avoid deep budget cutsDallas leaders weigh commercial billboards in public parks to generate revenue and prevent $13M budget cuts and service reductions. | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 Aug

Places need to be fun! www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...

planetizen.comAmerica 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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 Aug

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...

planetizen.comNorth Carolina eliminates parking minimums in most of stateA new state law prevents cities from requiring a certain number of parking spaces for new developments.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

1 Aug

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

theguardian.com‘If a space is cared for, everything improves’: Meet four gardeners transforming their urban communitiesFrom improving biodiversity to managing antisocial behaviour, the benefits of greening towns and cities are massive. These names are leading the charge…

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

3 July

2026's Best Cities for Outdoor Parties. #NYC takes the top spot. www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies...

lawnstarter.com2026’s Best Cities for Outdoor PartiesDiscover 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...

Mitchell Silver reposted

PlacemakingX

@placemakingx.bsky.social

25 June

“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

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

11 June

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.comThese 10 US cities have the ‘stickiest’ downtownsFrequency and length of visits by city residents make these 10 downtowns stand apart, Gensler says.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

11 June

How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Urban Heat Islands. www.yahoo.com/news/us/arti...

yahoo.comGreen Infrastructure: How US Cities Are Using Plants to Combat Dangerous Urban Heat IslandsImage 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...

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

7 June

#Raleigh's Dix Park continues to get positive reviews. @Raleighgov @dixpark.bsky.social www.islands.com/2187278/doro...

islands.comNorth Carolina's Once-Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital Is Now A Thriving Urban Park In Raleigh - IslandsRaleigh 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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

5 June

#Raleigh wants to plant more trees. We can do this! www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

newsobserver.comRaleigh 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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

4 June

Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone. www.planetizen.com/features/137...

planetizen.comTen extraordinary women making cities work better for everyoneA new book profiles women leaders shaping the future of modern cities. These are some of their stories.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

2 June

How urban design can deter crime @planetizen.bsky.social flip.it/eGH5XG

flip.itHow urban design can deter crimeWell-designed public spaces and good lighting can prevent crime and make residents feel safer.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

2 June

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type flip.it/rFDVno

flip.itTrees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right typeA new study has shown that more vegetation is not automatically better.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

30 May

vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e... #parks

vancouversun.comOpinion: A city that forgets its parks forgets its peoplePublic 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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

27 May

Good read. @dixpark in #Raleigh featured. www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/how-4-c...

smartcitiesdive.comHow 4 cities are reshaping parks into strategic climate and community infrastructureUrban parks can boost resilience, improve stormwater management and advance neighborhood equity, strengthening social cohesion in the process, the parks’ developers say.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

16 May

Let’s Get Serious About Fixing Our Sidewalks flip.it/BemFBz

flip.itLet’s Get Serious About Fixing Our SidewalksThey’re a crucial public resource, but cities don’t manage or maintain them well. There is plenty they could be doing.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

16 May

#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.googlePeople share ideas for new experiences, offerings at Fort MonroeFort Monroe could shape the trajectory of the region and state, says CEO Scott Martin.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

19 Apr

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/04...

planetizen.comOnly one US city makes the Happy City Index top 50The list is topped by Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Geneva.

Mitchell Silver reposted

Brent Toderian

@brenttoderian.bsky.social

16 Apr

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-...

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

19 Apr

www.axios.com/local/charlo...

axios.comSee designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.See designs to cap I-77 with parks and development.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

26 Jan

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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

15 Jan

Greening school playgrounds can improve quality of life in cities and help deal with climate change flip.it/J69sfQ

flip.itGreening school playgrounds can improve quality of life in cities and help deal with climate changeAdapting 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...

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

14 Jan

Designing Streets Through the Lens of Care flip.it/-ugPGw

flip.itDesigning Streets Through the Lens of CareInterview with Eduarda Aun, from GDCI. Rethink urban design: and prioritize children's needs to create vibrant, inclusive streets.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

10 Jan

6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026 www.planetizen.com/news/2026/01...

planetizen.com6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026These U.S. cities are reducing or removing car traffic to make major streets more people-friendly.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

15 Dec 2025

NYC’s Prospect Park is Getting a $68 Million ‘Bluebelt’ #parks flip.it/ij2Xvq

flip.itNYC’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.

Mitchell Silver

@mitchellsilver.bsky.social

19 Nov 2025

Utah unveils ambitious 3,100-mile #bike network. www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11...

planetizen.comUtah Unveils 'Ambitious' 3,100-mile Bike NetworkThe complete network would put a paved bike trail within one mile of 95% of Utah residents.

Mitchell Silver reposted

Brent Toderian

@brenttoderian.bsky.social

18 Nov 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