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Ongoing
We are tapping into the wealth of knowledge within the collective in order to educate and empower the greater Syracuse community. We kicked off the series with Dr. Jaynelle Nixon and “Advocacy and Activism: 101” September 2025. The workshops are monthly events that cover a broad range of topics from kayaking to canvassing, acrylic painting to carpentry for beginners. The topics are limitless. If you have an idea for a workshop you would like to host, send a message with your idea to contact@syracuseurbanism.org and put “Jaynelle” in the subject line. Managed by Jaynelle Nixon.
More workshop announcements coming soon!
Moving People Transportation Coalition
Moving People Transportation Coalition advocates for a sustainable and equitable regional transportation system that prioritizes walking, biking, public transit, and micromobility in Syracuse and Central New York.
Since 2012, we have pushed to improve transportation outcomes for PEOPLE (not just cars) by supporting the Community Grid, advocating for increased funding for Centro, and broadening community participation in planning processes related to transportation. We use social justice principles to guide our search for the best possible outcomes. These principles include respect for neighborhoods, community consensus-building, environmental quality, accessibility, safety, health promotion and economic empowerment.
I-81 Viaduct Project Recommendations
We’re advocating for a series of suggestions for improvements to the NYSDOT I-81 Project designs in Syracuse. The Syracuse Urbanism Collective’s official statement is available now. To learn more about the NYSDOT’s I-81 Viaduct Project, visit https://webapps.dot.ny.gov/i-81-viaduct-project. Managed by Baxter Hankin.
SWAG Bike Festival
The Syracuse Urbanism Collective held our city’s first Women’s and Gender Nonconforming People’s Bike Fest in 2024. We’ll be hosting again in 2025! Managed by Jaynelle Nixon.
Mini Meadows
The Syracuse Urbanism Collective is currently working on a program to place native plantings in public spaces throughout the city. Managed by Kevin Race.
Urbanist Book Club
We’re Starting an urbanist book club! This group is open to all. We’ll be reading collectively chosen books relevant to urbanism and discussing these at regular cafe meetups around the city of Syracuse. Managed by Caleb Winebrenner.
Regional Planning Policy Platform
Our focus is to ensure that Central New York plans for environmentally sustainable growth with urbanism that improves the quality of life for all and the resilience of our communities. We’ll produce policy writeups and diagrams on the topics of public transit, bike infrastructure, roads, and development. Managed by Baxter Hankin.
Public Policy
A project team focused on writing, recommending, and advocating for public policy from within the Syracuse Urbanism Collective. We have both a somewhat-comprehensive public policy wish list, as well as several more detailed policy memos. Managed by Baxter Hankin.
Community Streets
We created painted pedestrian bump outs and a temporary bike rack at the intersection of Salina and Jefferson for the City of Syracuse’s 2025 Community Streets Program. Learn more at https://smtcmpo.org/communitystreets/. Managed by Javier Zavaleta.
Past Projects
Onondaga Creekwalk Wayfinding
We applied for a grant through TNT Syracuse to improve wayfinding along the Onondaga Creekwalk via signage painted on the ground. We implemented this project in June of 2025! Managed by Javier Zavaleta.
Smart Growth in CNY Conference 2024
The Syracuse Urbanism Collective hosted the first Smart Growth in CNY Conference in November 2024. Click the link above to learn more and watch the recorded sessions!
The M. Lemp Park Project
The first project of the Syracuse Urbanism Collective is to make improvements to and activate M. Lemp Park in Downtown Syracuse. We’re currently working with the city to activate this space!
City Map Charrette
We hosted a map-based exercise at our March 2024 general meeting, giving attendees the chance to split into four smaller groups and mark changes they’d like to see in Syracuse on a map of the city.
Communities Over Highways Call for Action Letter
We signed on to a coalition of 195 organizations calling for a moratorium on highway expansions. You can read the letter in the attached document below. The letter was picked up by media such as Streetsblog and The Washington Post!
Northern Creekwalk Connector
We’ve applied to Syracuse’s Community Streets Program to add a missing link of protected bike lane between the Onondaga Lake Trail and Creekwalk for one block along hiawatha, as well as several crosswalks and curb extensions to enable safe pedestrian access between Destiny USA / the Creekwalk, Washington Square, and CNY Regional Market. Our project narrative is available below. Though this proposal was rejected, we thank the city for considering ou