Working for Smart Growth:
More Livable Places and Open Spaces

 

Posts Tagged ‘community’

More Than Mailers: Keys to Effective Outreach and Communication for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) in New Jersey Communities

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025

New Jersey Future’s Funding Navigator team has developed expertise in supporting water systems and municipal leaders in navigating the complexities of lead service line replacement (LSLR) funding, outreach, and communication. Meanwhile, the Jersey Water Works Lead Service Line Implementation Work Group and  Lead-Free New Jersey address the technical and logistical aspects of LSLR. Effective communication and community outreach are critical aspects of a successful LSLR program. In this blog, we’ll highlight key strategies and best practices for communication and outreach that can improve participation rates and build customer trust.

Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Spaces to Enhance Health and Accessibility for New Jersey’s Aging Population

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

As New Jersey’s population ages, one challenge stands out: how can we create an environment that supports the well-being of older adults, particularly in urban and suburban spaces? The built environment—our streets, sidewalks, and public areas—profoundly affects the health and independence of seniors. Yet many older residents, particularly in underserved communities, face significant barriers to mobility.

Rethinking Colonial Narratives and Transforming Native Insight into Actions: Indigenous Preservation of History

Thursday, July 20th, 2023

“Lenape means ‘the original human’, and that is where we need to get back to,” Chief Vincent Mann expressed, adding, “[reconnecting with the land] would provide us a way to encourage the people of tomorrow to take what we are sacrificing to create for them to further the future.” Indigenous people have a rich history of interacting in harmony with the environment.

Landmarking the Legacy of NJ Transgender Icon, Venus Pellagatii Xtravaganza

Thursday, July 20th, 2023

“It is necessary to invoice Venus’s story, not only through black history, but through Latinx history and queer history. It is too important to excavate this kind of history, so what happened to Venus won’t happen again because it continues to happen.” expressed Michael Roberson, Professor, New School and Union Theological Seminary at the 2023 Planning and Redevelopment Conference hosted by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association and New Jersey Future.

Next Stop: Transit Friendly Communities and TOD Opportunities

Thursday, July 20th, 2023

Transit-friendly planning is a proactive, transit-focused approach developed by NJ Transit that is applicable to any community. Transit-friendly planning and transit-oriented development (TOD) are important components of smart growth because they allow people to live, work and play without having to rely on a car.

Hinchliffe Stadium Opens New Opportunities for Paterson while Reconnecting to its Past

Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

While New York City boasts the “House that Ruth Built”, and Cooperstown and Kansas City host hall of fames, New Jersey’s role in the history of baseball, and in particular, NJ’s open exhibition of Black baseball during segregation is often overlooked. Hinchliffe Stadium was once a bustling hub for Black baseball, drawing fans from across the region to Paterson, NJ to see the best players of the day.

Examining the Influence of 50 years of Hip Hop on Planning and Redevelopment

Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

On the occasion of hip hop’s 50th birthday, media companies, nonprofits, and the general public are charting the massive influence of this musical and cultural phenomenon on all aspects of modern life. This was no different at the 2023 Planning and Redevelopment Conference, co-hosted by New Jersey Future and the American Planning Association NJ Chapter, where two sessions addressed hip hop and its intersection with planning and architecture.

Common Ground Emerges on Affordable Housing Solutions

Monday, July 17th, 2023

“New Jersey has a storied history of working to address affordable housing. For over five decades, municipalities and developers have collaborated and/or clashed in state agencies and in the courts,“ noted Tom D’Allessio, Vice President of Policy, American Planning Association, NJ Chapter, as he opened one of the two lively, productive sessions on affordable housing at the 2023 Planning and Redevelopment Conference.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes! How Water Utilities and Communities are Addressing Changing Climate, Changing Regulations and Changing Lead Pipes!

Monday, July 17th, 2023

“Water is the only utility you ingest,” noted Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water, as he reflected on the serious responsibility that water utilities have to protect the health of the communities they serve. To deliver on this responsibility, water utilities must address ever-changing environmental challenges.

Five Community Planning Initiatives To Solve Problems and Save Money

Tuesday, June 6th, 2023

Local officials face a rapidly changing world due to forces beyond their control. Impacts from the pandemic, climate change, and the racial reckoning cannot be ignored, nor can new state government requirements, ranging from housing to flood resilience. But by investing in community planning initiatives, municipal and county leaders can solve problems, save money, and strengthen their communities.

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