Revised Writings by City Planner Pete Pointner

The new fourth edition of “Readings in Urban Planning and Design” has been expanded with 13 new papers. It is now a compendium of 40 published and 11 unpublished papers with over 200 images. This free e-book is available at 

readingsinurbanplanninganddesign.blogspot.com

Each of these papers is an elaboration on the content of the chapters of my book “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made”. These readings complete the proposed study plan for a college level course in urban planning and design described on my blog site:



For more information on the book and author see www.petepointner.com. My purpose is to offer a practical resource on environmentally based planning and context sensitive design to lay persons, students and younger professionals involved in planning, design and development decisions. Please share this reference.

Pete Pointner





The Legacy Trail - Sarasota, Florida


 

Legacy Trail

 
The Legacy Trail is the regional backbone of a recreational and nature based trail system connecting communities across Sarasota County and stretching into neighboring Charlotte County.
 
The Legacy Trail offers several areas to stop, rest, learn about its history or just enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the trail. The rest stops include seven trailheads which offer access points with free parking.
 
In addition to the trailheads, users will find rest station areas approximately every mile that offer places to sit and relax. 
 

Trailhead Locations

 
The Legacy Trail offers several areas to stop, rest, learn about its history or just enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the trail. The rest stops include seven trailheads which offer access points with free parking.
 
The trailheads are located at:
 

Legacy Trailhead Maps

 
 

Little Bit of History

 
​On March 28, 2008, Sarasota County opened the largest public recreation project ever constructed in the area, The Legacy Trail. Totaling more than 10 miles in length the trail runs from just south of the city of Sarasota to Venice following the former CSX railroad corridor.
 
Purchased through a partnership between Sarasota County and the Trust for Public Land in December 2004 for $11.75 million, The Legacy Trail is the backbone of network of trails planned in Sarasota County.
 
The Legacy Trail is open from dawn to dusk with the rules for using the trail posted at various locations as well as at each trailhead entrance point.
 

Trail Hours and Rules

 
Open year round from 6 a.m. - dusk.
 

Final Report

 
 

Report Appendices

 
 

Legacy Trail Documents

 
 

The Secret’s Out!

 
​The secret’s out – Legacy Trail was named as a finalist in the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s Reader’s Choice awards for the Best Kept Local Secret.
 

The Legacy Trail

 
It Starts in Parks
 
 

Legacy Trail Slide Show

 
 

Something is Going To Get You, But it Probably Is Not Terrorism


Your odds of dying in a terrorist attack are still far, far lower than dying from just about anything else.

In the last five years, the odds of an American being killed in a terrorist attack have been about 1 in 20 million (that's including both domestic attacks and overseas attacks). As the chart above from the Economist shows, that's considerably smaller than the risk of dying from many other things, from post-surgery complications to ordinary gun violence to lightning.
That said, terrorist attacks obviously loom much larger in our collective consciousness — not least because they're designed to horrify. So, understandably, they get much more attention.
Click to read the full article:
Further reading:
--The Global Terrorism Database is a useful searchable site that lets you search and track terrorism attacks around the world since 1970.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Click for our Christmas Newsletter



Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men (and Women). 

Free E-book "Readings in Urban Planning and Design"

Readings in Urban Planning and Design This manuscript expands upon, and compliments, chapters in the book “Planning Connections – Human, Nat...