Placemaking strengthens the connection between people and the places they share. The Orange County Citizens Foundation encourages current residents to engage in placemaking initiatives to shape a meaningful and sustainable future for subsequent generations. The Orange County Citizens Foundation periodically hosts public tours of local and regional spaces, aimed at helping people understand more about the challenges and successes our communities face.
In recent years, we have visited Ramsey (NJ) and Milford (PA), as well as Beacon, Sugar Loaf, Warwick, Montgomery, Cornwall, Monroe, Goshen, Walden, and Middletown in our own Hudson Valley region. We explore the successes these communities have had and the challenges they face. By doing so, and holding frank conversations with their community members and leaders, we hope to foster the sharing of ideas and alternative ways of dealing with challenges in other communities.
Annually, the Orange County Citizens Foundation facilitates a conference to share valuable placemaking ideas, and to honor individuals and organizations “fighting the good fight” by creating great places right here in Orange County. Conference topics have included infrastructure needs, traffic calming, downtown revitalization, farmers markets, walk-ability, and much more. Speakers range from nationally recognized planners, authors, and change-makers to local “in the trenches” experts.
On Friday, March 22, 2019, the Citizens Foundation invited expert Mike Lydon of Street Plans Collaborative to speak on the topic of Pop-Up Placemaking, also known as tactical urbanism.
In addition to the presentation (this video) the Citizens Foundation formally announced that they will provide up to ten (10) $250 grants to groups, businesses and/or communities interested in completing a “pop-up placemaking” project this year!
We realize that many of you are interested in applying for the grant and that attendance to this event was a qualifier to applying. As a result, our Placemaking Committee is allowing those who were not present an opportunity to apply with the following guidelines. In order to apply for one of the ten (10) $250 grants please watch the video, fill out the questionnaire (located below) and sign it, verifying that you have watched the video and email the completed form (with signature) to Jackie Perez at jperez@visionhudsonvalley.org. She will email you the application after receiving your completed questionnaire.
Please note that if you were in attendance all you need to do is fill out the application and send it to
Jackie Perez at jperez@visionhudsonvalley.org.
Thank you to our sponsor Warwick Valley Bed and Breakfast!
Citizens Symposium- Pop Up Placemaking Video Questionnaire