Call it what you will – tactical urbanism, DIY urbanism, etc. – many urban planners and designers are thinking creatively about how improvements to the city can be made in an era of tight budgets. The video below showcases a project in Syracuse that could be considered in this vein. The project, called A Love Letter to Syracuse, is a public art project sited in a strategically important location in the city. My personal experience of the project matches the artists’ and community organizers’ intentions, I think. It makes me happy to pass through this area and generally feel good about the city. Residents of aging cities need more of this! It is also a good example of a public-private partnership between the private university, SU, and the local government.
The video was posted on YouTube a little over a year ago, but it deserves another look and wider circulation. I have to say, I’m growing more and more interested in the use of paint as an inexpensive tool for neighborhood improvement.
Praxis in Landscape Architecture 
I love these, too, particularly the “Winter longs…” series. It really changes how you see those bridges, and the lettering style makes the utilitarian bridges look intentional. These might be the inspiration for the all-positive graffiti on the crumbling I-81 underpass down here in little Tully, including the eye-catching “Only Good Vibes/Do Your Best.”