West Site Waterfront Redevelopment 2018
National Working Waterfronts Symposium:
Keeping Waterfronts Working for the Next Century: Sustainability, Recovery and Prosperity | May 14-17, 2018 | Grand Rapids, MI
Abstract submissions due February 2nd, 2018.
"The National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium is the crown jewel of the National Working Waterfront Network. People from across the United States attend the symposium to connect with one another and showcase (and initiate) innovative solutions to their waterfront issues. The ultimate goal of the symposium, and the Network, is to increase the capacity of saltwater- and freshwater-based coastal communities and for stakeholders to make informed decisions, balance diverse uses, ensure access, and plan for the future of their working waterfronts. Working waterfronts include waterfront lands, waterfront infrastructure, and waterways that are used for water-dependent activities, such as ports, marinas, small recreational boat harbors, fishing docks, and hundreds of other places across the country where people use and access the water.
"Michigan Sea Grant is hosting the 5th National Symposium. By design, the triennial symposium moves around the country to highlight the diversity of our nation’s working waterfronts; to foster a cross-fertilization of ideas, knowledge, and solutions; and to generate strategic partnerships."
Citizens' Institute on Rural Design: 2018 opportunity for communities to apply for design assistance.
For cities and towns under 50,000 residents. NEA and CIRD staff will walk participants through the program opportunity as well as the mechanics of how to apply. For more information about CIRD and to view the Request for Proposals, visit: https://www.rural-design.org/request-for-proposals. Deadline for communities to apply is February 16, 2018.
The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design™ (CIRD) connects communities to the design resources they need to convert their own good ideas into reality. CIRD is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) conducted in partnership with Project for Public Spaces, along with the Orton Family Foundation.
The CIRD 2018 program is focused on helping rural leaders and residents come together to find creative solutions for the following design issues:
• Multimodal Transportation – Examples of design challenges include: Improving bike/pedestrian access in your community; retrofitting commercial strips to accommodate pedestrians; the development of recreational trails for mobility and economic development; mobility for the elderly and aging in place; context sensitive rural highways and byways; integration of arts/culture/design to improve transportation or pedestrian experience.
• Healthy Living by Design – Examples of design challenges include: Creating public space that supports play and active recreation; improving access to healthy food and local food eco-systems; enhancing access for walking, biking, and active transportation/recreation; building social cohesion and opportunities for social interaction via creative placemaking.
• Main Streets – Examples of design challenges include: Leveraging Main Street for economic development; redesigning Main Street as a local street versus state highway/thruway; cultivating/enhancing public space on main street via design or creative placemaking; branding and design along Main Street; historic preservation and adaptive reuse of Main Street buildings; maximizing the role that arts and culture can play as an economic driver for local and regional economies.