When you think of a city you like, what comes to mind? Can a city be a work of art? How do parked cars serve pedestrians? Most of the interaction among people, bikes, and cars is unplanned. How does that happen? Why do people gather in some places and avoid others? Is it possible to create a neighborhood from the ground up? What is a “public space”? How can the design of public space promote or retard social interaction?

The beautiful and historic neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights offers excellent examples of Jane Jacobs’s principles of urban diversity in action. Beginning at the steps of Brooklyn¹s Borough Hall, we will stroll through residential and commercial streets while observing and talking about how the physical environment influences social activity and even economic and cultural development, both for good and for ill. We will be stopping at several points of interest, including the famous Promenade, and end near the #2/3 subway and a nice coffeehouse.

Friends of Saranac River Trail continues our Treks in 2018 with our first Plattsburgh Downtown Trek. We'll visit highlights of Downtown as it is today. We'll point out a few historic point and a few coming attractions, but the focus is on the Downtown where we live, work, play, and visit -- today. We promise you you'll see things that have been right in front of your eyes for years as we explore Downtown.