Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1544361
54 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2026 Exped qui iumqui audam aut et verit volor re eumqui cus, que premqui si conse nese. strategic designs, cities create spaces that foster economic development and improve safety in a sustainable way. Another key component of creating feminist cities is designing cities that acknowledge and accommodate the needs of children and families. While the expectations around caretaking and homemaking are changing, modern cities were not designed with the needs of children and mothers in mind. But when it comes to what is possible for our communities, we have a lot we can learn from existing Learn more about public space improvements through Reimagining the Civic Commons at maconciviccommons.com design choices across the globe. In Japan, a reality T.V. show called "Old Enough!" follows children ages 3-6 as they complete an unsupervised errand, walking from their homes to a nearby convenience store to purchase household necessities. Although the children are indirectly supervised, it's hard to imagine sending young kids out in America to pick up a few items from the corner store because our streets aren't designed to safely accommodate human needs (as much as they are designed to move cars quickly). But these kinds of examples show us the changes we can make to our city to better accommodate the experiences and needs of all our residents. Other interventions like so-called superblocks in Barcelona are designed to improve safety by prioritizing the needs of pedestrians, blocking off sections of the city to cars and focusing on bottom-up data gathering how people use the city streets. Cities are dynamic, and they are always changing. As residents we have the power to shape our cities to reflect our needs and experiences. And what's more, when we build our cities with women, children, and families in mind, we create cities that are fundamentally more accessible and enjoyable for all residents. Sidewalks that easily allow mothers to push their strollers are also more accessible for people with reduced mobility, like elderly people or people who rely on wheelchairs and walkers. Streets that are safer for women at night are safer for every resident. Each time we create a space that is more accessible for one group of people, be it women, children, or any other group, we inherently make our community more accessible for everyone. Although the concept of feminist cities calls special and needed attention to the way that women experience life in our communities, the truth is that the principles of the feminist city are foundational for any city that aspires to safety, dignity, and a high quality of life for its residents. focused on community development, released a report in 2023 highlighting the impact of CPED initiatives across the country. These interventions ranged from building housing next to a once deserted and empty park to workforce development initiatives that focused on teaching landscaping skills on vacant lots owned by the city. There are countless ways that cities can improve the safety of the community through designs that don't require additional police or recorded surveillance equipment. Through investing in "One way that cities across the country are centering the needs of women and children is through improving the physical safety of the built environment, including increasing pedestrian safety and reducing crime through strategic designs." Wide sidewalks with cafe seating attached to restaurants and stores helps serve as "eyes on the street" in Downtown Macon.