The Best DIY Urbanism of 2015

The tactical urbanism movement has come a long way since the parklets and painted crosswalks of years past. These days, it’s hard not to come across a new self-starter project designed to remedy a neighborhood or even a citywide issue. This year’s best projects ran the gamut from downright adorable innovations to ideas with the potential to transform our urban spaces.

Although 2015 by no means marked the genesis of chairbombing, it did usher in some pretty clever projects in this realm. One in particular—spearheaded by the urban strategist and communications professional Gracen Johnson—helped to provide a much-needed resting spot in the small city of Fredericton, New Brunswick. By painting and re-purposing tree stumps, Johnson and her neighbors fashioned a kaleidoscope of seating near the local farmer’s market. Even though a homeowner eventually asked for the stumps to be removed, Johnson’s design allowed for them to be easily discarded without damaging the land. While her project certainly demonstrates the risks of DIY urbanism, it also addresses a crucial need for more strategically-placed seating in our urban areas.