21 May Introducing the Doable City Reader

Many of the best, most authentic and enduring destinations in a city, the places that keep locals and tourists coming back again and again and that anchor quality, local jobs, were born out of a series of incremental, locally-based improvements. One by one, these interventions built places that were more than the sum of their parts. — Project for Public Spaces

There is so much that can be done to make our cities happier, healthier and more prosperous places. Some of those things will take years or decades to happen. But others can happen right now. They are happening. Every day in cities around the world citizens and city planners alike are showing us how small actions can scale up to have massive impact. And they can in your city too.

That’s why we’re introducing the Doable City Reader. The Reader is meant for any and all people who want to make change in their cities. It developed out of the June 2014 Chicago Doable City Forum, which brought together two hundred civic innovators from around North America.

Inside, you’ll find stories, examples and case studies of small actions that can scale up to make our cities happier, healthier and more prosperous places.

Each chapter contains resources and ideas to bring these solutions to your communities. For example, our stories include:

• How cities of all sizes are creating free-bike shares and encouraging thousands of people to get outside and be active
• How streets can be transformed for happier citizens
• What existing but hidden assets each city has that can be put to use overnight

We’ll be publishing related blog posts and sharing information here on our blog. To connect with us, follow us at @880citiesorg and tell us what works in your community.

-The 8 80 Cities Team