DAILY READERS
I learned journalism at the storied Akron Beacon Journal.
Its daily print circulation is below
22,000.
It’s not an apples to apples comparison
-- but I am proud to be getting so many readers.
My blog focuses on building a better environment for people with disabilities, placemaking and urban photography.
It began more than a decade ago and
has had nearly 1.5 million unique visitors.
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
She noted that LIBOR was happy that the town of Babylon
provided an amenity that will pay dividends perpetually.
When the
garden opened a few years ago, LIBOR thanked Shaffer, Suffolk County Legislator
Jason Richberg, Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory and Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean
Pierre for their support of the project.
The LIBOR
community amenity initiatives are wonderful examples of cross-generational
ideas and projects that will provide connections within the neighborhoods for
generations to come.
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
The garden
was created on less than an acre of town-owned land by the senior center
parking lot. It features raised beds to allow gardening access by people with
limited mobility.
“Engaging in
gardening activities has been proven to have positive effects on mental health,
reducing stress and anxiety while promoting a sense of accomplishment and
purpose.
The
therapeutic aspects of working in a community garden cannot be understated, as
it provides a peaceful and nurturing environment for individuals to connect
with nature and each other,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and
Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Antonio Martinez, in a joint statement.
“The
Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden is a shining example of how a simple
initiative can have far-reaching benefits for our community.
Together,
let us continue to cultivate a healthier and happier community for all.”
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
The garden
provides fresh fruits and vegetables to a local soup kitchen and the Wyandanch
Senior Nutrition Center.
“The
Wyandanch Senior Center Community Garden not only provides access to fresh
produce but also fosters a sense of community and well-being among our
residents.
The
proximity of the garden to the senior center is invaluable, as it allows our
seniors to engage in meaningful activities that promote physical health and
social interaction,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and Deputy
Supervisor and Councilman Antonio Martinez, in a joint statement.
“Furthermore,
the provision of free produce in a lower-income community like Wyandanch is a
testament to our commitment to addressing food insecurity and promoting healthy
eating habits.
By offering
fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, we are not only nourishing bodies
but also empowering individuals to make nutritious choices for themselves and
their families.”
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
It is fixed
to the Rockaway building and spans over the sidewalk and the Street Seat.
The colorful
theme of the Street Seat matches a mural on the face of the adjacent Rockaway
Brewing Company.
Rockaway
graciously agreed to cover the liability of the space and maintain it.
“Community
is at the heart of real estate, which is why REALTORS® volunteer at twice the
rate of the general population,” said LIBOR President Kevin Leatherman, in a
statement released during this year’s spruce up of the Long Island City Street
Seat.
“We are
incredibly proud of our members who go above and beyond helping consumers buy
and sell homes.
At LIBOR, we
are committed to creating better, more vibrant communities, and volunteerism is
central to that mission.
Our
REALTORS® are dedicated to making a lasting impact, ensuring that our
neighborhoods are wonderful places to live, work and thrive for generations.”
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
“This was
done during COVID, to provide more outdoor space for distancing in a bustling
Queens community,” said Marlo Paventi, the senior director of public policy
& government affairs for LIBOR.
“It is boxed
in and protected from cars by larger planter boxes that have bench seating
built into them. There also are circular benches built in the middle and
connected together.”
A NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® Placemaking Grant funded the project that immediately
became part of the growing neighborhood’s fabric.
“We hired a
consultant, got permits, worked with New York City Parks and hired a firm to
build it,” Paventi said.
“Several of
our REALTORS® volunteered in July to repaint, plant flowers and spruce up the
2021 project.”
INTO BELOVED URBAN SPACE AND CHERISHED COMMUNITY GARDEN
THAT SERVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
The location
at 46th and 5th Street is footsteps from the waterfront featuring Gantry Plaza
State Park, NYC Ferry dock and the famous neon-lit historic Pepsi Cola sign. It
was the perfect place to turn a trio of parking spaces into a Street Seat.
A Street
Seat, sometimes known as a parklet, turns parking spaces into people places by
introducing seating, greenery and shade over asphalt.
The Long
Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) chose the location to accommodate the
hundreds of thousands of individuals who patronize local businesses—providing a
safe and inviting place to rest, meet up, eat and enjoy the community.
2024 CONVENTION IN ORLANDO
My topic was
Sustainable Development Solutions -- How Do You Fit In?
IN PRESTIGIOUS "WHAT MAKES A GREAT PLACE?” SERIES PUBLISHED BY PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
I am
available as a keynote speaker & workshop leader on making your place more inclusive.
Here’s my
part of the story:
For example,
in the words of Steve Wright, an inclusive public space advocate who works in
development and universal design, our streets and shared spaces often “give
this image that if you use any kind of assisted mobility device, you are a
second- or third-class citizen.”
And though
physical mobility is by no means the only aspect of accessibility, its barriers
are some of the easiest to spot: out-of-the-way ramps, sidewalks blocked with
electric scooters or scaffolding, or non-functioning wheelchair lifts.
Not only
does this cut people off from what a place has to offer, but it also hinders
their ability to tap into a sense of belonging and social access.
I LOVE SHARING MY WORDS AND IMAGES
WHILE WE PURSUE HAPPINESS
This month, my blog passed more than 400,000 unique visitors.
It has been
around for nearly a decade.
I try to
post daily.
Nearly 4,000
blog posts have been published here.
More than
3,000 original images – from across the United States, South America, Central
America, Europe, Africa and Asia have been shared here.
I have
posted collaborations created for the National Association of REALTORS, United
Spinal Association, Wood Communications, Global Disability Inclusion, Barlington
Group, Equitable Cities, Curtis + Rogers Design and many other partners.
About half
of my posts have to do with Universal Design and advocacy for people with
disabilities.
Many share
best practices for urban design, town planning, architecture, transit, mobility
and related placemaking.
Stay tuned,
we will be well over 400,000 readers before the year is out.
 |
| On assignment in Egypt: March 2020 |
 |
| Storytelling for clients from Biscayne Bay to the banks of the Nile |
