Why Do Our Cities Have Sidewalks but So Little Street Life?
By Neil O. Campbell
Governance Ecosystem Designer and Founder, Living Ecosystem Design
Why do our cities have sidewalks, yet so many streets remain empty of human activity? Sidewalks alone do not create vibrant, walkable communities. Through the lens of Living Ecosystem Design, this article explores how urban planning, accessibility, placemaking, and local economic activity can transform underutilized streets into thriving public spaces. It challenges us to rethink how we activate the built environment, strengthen neighborhood economies, and create meaningful street life without displacing the residents and communities that already give these places their identity.
If Atlanta Is a City in the Forest, Where Are the Trails Through the Forest?
By Neil O. Campbell
Living Ecosystem Design (LED)
Atlanta is known as the “City in the Forest,” but a forest without connected trails is like a teacup without a handle. This article explores a different way of thinking about trails, not simply as recreational amenities, but as human mobility infrastructure that can connect neighborhoods, culture, commerce, nature, and emerging eco-village destinations. The opportunity may not be to build everything new, but to rediscover what already exists and connect it in a more intentional way.