Click here to learn how to start and manage your own project!
Join to receive info on how to join our project teams!
Ongoing
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.
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’re currently putting together next steps to make this project a reality! Managed by Javier Zavaleta.
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 Michael John Heagerty and 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.
Community Streets 2025
A group putting together an application to the City of Syracuse’s 2025 Community Streets Program. Learn more at https://smtcmpo.org/communitystreets/. Managed by Javier Zavaleta.
Design Team
A team of designers who create visuals of imagined futures for Syracuse and Central New York. Project manager TBD.
Public Policy
A project team focused on writing, recommending, and advocating for public policy from within the Syracuse Urbanism Collective. Managed by Baxter Hankin.
Funding Team
A group to share and collaborate on funding opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, crowdfunding, and more! Project manager TBD.
Public Hearings
This group organizes our official comments on public hearings and represents the Syracuse Urbanism Collective at important meetings. Managed by Johny Rizk.
Past Projects
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