public space

More public seating could make the city of Chicago more hospitable, more accessible, and more lively.

Lightfoot on backyard hangouts: "I'm here to tell you that that has to stop." But the mayor says relaxed rules on indoor bar and restaurant service isn't to blame for the recent spike in cases.

There’s nothing more romantic than supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of hardworking Chicagoans, plus the creative reuse of old shipping containers.

Say goodbye to the Heritage Bicycles People Spot.

Whether you're a rabid Blackhawks fan or couldn't care less about professional sports, Monday night was an unforgettable evening on the streets of Chicago -- and on its newest bike and pedestrian paths.

Last year the Chicago Loop Alliance, one of the downtown chambers of commerce, rolled out several successful placemaking campaigns, activating underused public spaces in an effort to make the central business district a better place for people to hang out, relax and socialize. These included the Pop-Up Art Loop program, which turns empty storefronts into temporary galleries, the Gateway seating area in the median of State at Wacker, and Activate Couch Place, an arts event held in the eponymous alley.

Two of the biggest problems facing local youth, and Chicagoans in general, are street crime and the obesity epidemic, partly due to a lack of safe outdoor spaces for physical activity. PlayStreets, an initiative launched last year by the Chicago Department of Public Health, addresses both of those initiative by closing off city streets to traffic in low-income communities of color for three-hour intervals to create safe places to play.