Shows
Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceA Place to Stay: Julie Stein on Union SquareWhat turns a busy crossroads into a place where people want to linger, meet friends, and connect with strangers? Julie Stein, executive director of the Union Square Partnership, joins Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace to explore how public space builds community and strengthens a neighborhood’s economy. From quieter streets and pedestrian plazas to the Greenmarket, lunchtime jazz, and a simple movable chair, Julie shares what makes Union Square welcoming—and how partnerships can turn temporary experiments into lasting improvements. A conversation about giving people reasons to come, reasons to stay, and opportunities to connect.
CLOSER is a co...
2026-10-0844 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceCan Public-Private Partnerships Raise the Ambitions of Public Parks? — Tony Sorrentino of Fairmount Park ConservancyIn this episode of CLOSER, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Tony Sorrentino, President and CEO of Fairmount Park Conservancy in Philadelphia. Tony explains how the Conservancy supplements the city’s resources through fundraising, planning, ecological restoration, historic preservation, and public programming.
The conversation explores who should pay for beauty and innovation in public space, why clear roles and constant communication are essential to successful public-private partnerships. Tony also offers practical advice for anyone creating a conservancy: respect the public partner, embrace some ambiguity, never surprise one another, and approach the work with humility and a sp...
2026-09-2539 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceHow Walking Brings a City Closer - Laura Conely of Urban Paths in HoustonCan a simple walk change how we see our city and one another?
In this episode of CLOSER, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Laura Conley, founder of Urban Paths. For 15 years, Laura has led walks across Houston that bring people together through movement, nature, public art, connection, and the practice of noticing.
Laura explains how group walking can do more than support physical and mental well-being. In the relaxed rhythm of moving together, strangers begin to connect, assumptions soften, and small shifts in perception accumulate. Laura discusses a recent research pilot and how...
2026-09-1832 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceParks Are Doing More Than You Think - Catherine Nagel of City Parks AllianceParks aren’t just amenities. They’re essential city infrastructure.
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Catherine Nagel, longtime executive director of City Parks Alliance, about the evolving role of urban parks and the legacy of her more than two decades of leadership.
How can parks address challenges ranging from public health and climate resilience to economic development and social isolation? And what does it take to secure the funding, partnerships and public support needed to sustain them?
Catherine explains why parks must be understood as flexible, mult...
2026-09-1038 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceWhat Public Pools Can Teach Us About Bringing People Together - Ben Bryant of Interface StudiosHow often do major investments in civic space fall short of their potential for lack of a few small enhancements? And why are private pools so much more beautiful and inviting than our public ones?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Ben Bryant, senior associate at Interface Studio, about Philadelphia’s Pop-Up Pool Project. Supported by the Knight Foundation, the project has become a model for Philadelphia and New York, inspiring the transformation of 40 public pools that collectively welcome more than half a million visitors each summer.
Ben explains how...
2026-08-2744 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceA Public Space Isn’t Social Until Someone Makes the Invitation - Dr. Leigh Graham of the Bloomberg Center for Public InnovationBringing diverse people together in a public space is important, but recent research indicates that proximity alone does not create new connections.
In this episode of Closer, Dr. Leigh Graham, senior advisor for innovation research at the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University shares early insights from research and pilots in parks across the country. Dr. Graham has been working with Carol on exploring how public spaces can become engines of social interaction across race, class, age, and other differences.
What transforms strangers sharing a space into people who actually engage with o...
2026-08-1336 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceCreating Extraordinary Places with Little Gestures - Sandra KulliWhere does extraordinary come from, especially when so much of what gets built doesn’t come close?
In this episode of Closer, cultural anthropologist Sandra Kulli draws on four decades of work with developers around the world to reveal how small changes can produce big results over time. Her approach begins with three questions: Where are you today? What is missing? And what would you never give up?
From Los Angeles and its 89 small neighborhoods to communities across the globe, Sandra finds that extraordinary places rarely emerge from grand gestures. They grow from little gestures of...
2026-08-0637 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceKate Orff of SCAPEIs it possible to work at a systems-wide level, recognize how deeply interconnected our world is, and still avoid being paralyzed by its complexity?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Kate Orff, founding principal of SCAPE and the first landscape architect to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.
Kate explains why parks, greenways, coastlines, and living ecosystems should be treated as essential urban infrastructure. Drawing on work in Memphis, Jacksonville, Atlanta, New Orleans, and New York, she explores the power of connected landscapes to cool cities, protect communities, and bring people t...
2026-07-3050 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceAlex Zhu of the Baltimore Chamber of ConnectionWhat can be learned from one man's fight to make his city more welcoming and social?
Alex Zhu, founder of the Baltimore Chamber of Connection, is building a movement to help people feel more connected to their neighbors, their communities, and the city they call home.
In this episode of Closer, Mark Wallace and Carol Coletta talk with Alex about pairing newcomers with Baltimore Ambassadors, supporting the people who bring communities together, and creating simple opportunities for connection—from neighborhood gatherings to sunset potlucks in Patterson Park.
Together, they explore the vital role of h...
2026-07-2327 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceEric Larson of Detroit Downtown PartnershipIf Detroit can reinvent itself, what can other cities learn from its example?
Eric Larson, CEO of the Detroit Downtown Partnership, has spent more than three decades helping shape one of America's most remarkable urban comeback stories.
In this episode of Closer, Mark Wallace and Carol Coletta talk with Eric about the role of public spaces, public-private partnerships, and civic leadership in transforming Detroit from a symbol of urban decline into a model for downtown revitalization.
Together, they explore why some downtowns are thriving while others continue to struggle after the pandemic, why...
2026-07-1640 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceCarol Coletta - Dispatches from EuropeIn this special episode, Carol Coletta returns from Europe with fresh ideas about district-scale development and the invisible nudges that can turn strangers into neighbors.
Drawing on visits to Copenhagen's remarkable experiments in hybrid social infrastructure, Carol shares lessons from places that blur the line between community center, restaurant, park, and public square. Together, Mark and Carol explore what makes places like Folkehuset Absalon and Spor10 work, whether those models could succeed in American cities, and why context, density, and long-term civic vision matter so much in creating vibrant public life.
The conversation also turns...
2026-07-0928 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceJuanita Hardy of the Urban Land InstituteWhat happens when artists are invited to shape a project from the very beginning, not simply asked to decorate it at the end? How can developers, architects, and artists work together to create places that are more authentic, more welcoming, and ultimately more valuable?
Juanita Hardy, a longtime champion of creative placemaking and former vice chair of the Urban Land Institute's Placemaking Council, shares what she has learned about the role artists can play in shaping successful developments, public spaces, and communities. She also discusses a new Urban Land Institute report that makes the case for integrating...
2026-06-2534 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceTanja Mitchell of Mitchell Consulting, the "Mayor of Uptown" MemphisWhat does it take to create a community where residents of different incomes, backgrounds, and experiences feel connected to one another?
In this episode of CLOSER, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Tanja Mitchell, President and CEO of Mitchell Consulting and the unofficial “Mayor of Uptown,” a mixed-income neighborhood in Memphis that has become a national model for community transformation.
Tanja shares the lessons she learned helping guide Uptown from a struggling public housing community to a vibrant neighborhood where public housing residents, professionals, and families live side by side.Tanja offers a practical blue...
2026-06-1831 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceMichael Van Valkenburgh of MVVA Associates“A second of love is a game changer; it is the beginning of a paradigm shift.”
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Michael Van Valkenburgh, one of the most influential landscape architects of our time. Through projects ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to some of North America's most celebrated parks, Michael has helped shape the way people experience cities while inspiring generations of designers.
Michael reflects on the projects that defined his career, the lessons he has learned from community engagement, and the role parks play in bringing people together acros...
2026-06-1129 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceRJ Justice of the City of KnoxvilleIs it possible for a city to be both flexible and intentional? How can a fast-growing city create public spaces that invite people to spend time together?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Rebekah Jane (RJ) Justice, the Chief of Urban Design and Development for the City of Knoxville about how cities can grow without losing the qualities that make people love them in the first place.
RJ shares how her city has shifted from simply chasing investment to strategically guiding it, and why the most important question in u...
2026-05-2231 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceLennart Lajboschitz of Folkehuset AbsalonHave we optimized ourselves into loneliness? What if the antidote to social isolation isn’t technology or convenience, but shared meals, table tennis, and a little intentional friction?
In this episode of CLOSER, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Lennart Lajboschitz, founder of Absalon, the beloved Copenhagen community house that welcomes nearly 600,000 visitors a year.
Built inside a former church, Absalon has become an international model for social connection through communal dining, shared activities, and the radical idea that cities should create more opportunities for strangers to become neighbors.
Lennart sha...
2026-05-1435 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceJosephine Ramirez Senior Advisor and Arts LeaderTwo radical ideas: everyone is an artist and making art together can bring us together.
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Josephine Ramirez, a veteran arts funder and nonprofit leader whose career includes senior roles at The Music Center and the James Irvine Foundation.
Why has the arts world drawn such sharp lines between “artists” and everyone else? And what if creativity is less about excellence, and more about connection?
Josephine shares her provocative vision for flipping the traditional arts model: shifting focus away from elite performance and t...
2026-04-3041 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceLeah Houston of Mabelle ArtsWhat does it take to unlock creativity in communities that already have deep social bonds? And why it a good strategy to leave a park unfinished?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Leah Houston, founder and executive director of Mabelle Arts in Toronto’s Mabelle Park, where artists and residents collaborate to design, build, and program public space together. Her work has transformed a neglected park into a vibrant hub for connection, creativity, and community life, earning her the inaugural Tim Jones Creative Placemaking Award.
Leah shares how participation can b...
2026-04-2331 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceKira Strong of Highline Network & Bridget Marquis of Reimagining Civic CommonsWhat does it take to turn forgotten infrastructure into places people love? And how are parks and public space leaders growing a movement to truly bring people together?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Bridget Marquis and Kira Strong, two national leaders shaping the future of public space.
Kira Strong is Executive Director of the Highline Network, a coalition of 46 of the best parks and trails in the country that together attract almost 50 million visitors a year. Bridget Marquis leads Reimagining the Civic Commons, a re...
2026-04-1656 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceRyan Meyers-Johnson of Sidewalk DetroitWhat happens when art leaves the theater and shows up on the street? Why are some planners afraid of the public? And what can cities learn from the way artists see the world?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Ryan Meyers Johnson, Executive Director of Sidewalk Detroit, about how art, choreography, and small experiments in public space can transform the way people experience their city—and each other.
Ryan shares how site-specific performance invites people to become part of the work, why artists can see possibility where others see pr...
2026-04-0937 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceDan Rice of the Ohio & Erie Canalway CoalitionWhat does it take to turn a city’s overlooked assets into its greatest strengths?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Daniel Rice, President & CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.
Dan shares how Akron shifted moved away from “whale hunting” for big corporate wins to investing in parks, trails, and public spaces as core economic strategy. He reflects on three decades defined by more than 150 partnerships. And Dan offers a practical playbook for cities: start with community, test ideas, stay consistent, and let success build momentum.
Closer...
2026-04-0240 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceKrista Nightengale of Better BlockHow much can a community learn from a one-day project, and can a short-term experiment change the trajectory of a city?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Krista Nightengale, Executive Director of Better Block.
Krista shares how to lower the barriers to participation, why experimentation beats perfection, and how creating moments of shared experience can transform the way people see their neighborhoods and each other. If cities are strongest when people feel connected, Better Block offers a playbook rooted in action, creativity, and a willingness to invite everyone to...
2026-03-2633 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceMatt Naimi of Dreamtroit and the Lincoln Street Art ParkWhat if the key to building community in a city is throwing a great party?
In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Detroit’s self-described “garbage man,” Matt Naimi, whose recycling center unexpectedly became one of the city’s most vibrant civic spaces. What began as Recycle Here!evolved into the Lincoln Street Art Park and eventually Dreamtroit, a mixed-use community for artists, makers, and neighbors.
Matt shares how saying yes to artists, removing money from gatherings, and keeping the doors open to everyone can transform overlooked spaces into places where pe...
2026-03-1936 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceOmar Blaik of U3 AdvisorsOmar Blaik, CEO of U3 Advisors and recipient of the Edmund Bacon Urban Design Award, has spent his career helping anchor institutions transform struggling neighborhoods into thriving urban districts.
In this episode, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace explore why markets rarely fix distressed neighborhoods on their own, how strategies like “buy local, hire local, live local” can create new urban vitality, and why anchor institutions should care deeply about the communities that surround them. Along the way, Omar reflects on why the best cities deliver joy not just in private spaces, but in the public realm we all...
2026-03-1232 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceJosh McManus of M|B|PJosh McManus, co-founder of M|B|P|, is a driving force behind transformational work in misunderstood cities from Jackson to Chattanooga to Detroit and beyond. How can organizations on-the-ground achieve transformational impact at scale? Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk about weaving together big corporate bets with grassroots leadership. Josh shares lessons on leadership, regeneration, and why the future of cities may lie in “a thousand little things.”
Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.
2026-03-0533 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceBetsy Murdoch of The Congregation in DetroitCoffee shop as social glue? That’s what co-owner and managing partner Betsy Murdoch has created at The Congregation in Detroit. And its popularity keeps growing.
Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.
2026-02-2631 minCloser with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceAaron Hurst and the US Chamber of ConnectionSocial connections cure a lot of ills. Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, aims to power a movement with his six points of connection.
Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.
2026-02-1939 min
Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark WallaceCathy Leff of Bakehouse Arts Complex in MiamiMiami’s Bakehouse Art Complex is getting a makeover and so is its Wynwood Norte neighborhood. It’s a remarkable collaboration led by Cathy Leff, long-time community developer, arts executive, and innovator.
Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.
2026-02-1138 min