Climate

Inspiration and insights from cold-weather cities reimagining winter as a season to love.

Written by Lisa Jacobson

When it comes to winter, some cities hunker down. Others – in particular our neighbors to the north and Scandinavian cities – do not hold back. They’ve changed how they talk about the coldest season. They’ve changed their culture and mindsets and now enjoy bundling up and being outside all winter. Why only spend money on outdoor programming over the summer, when people are already out and about? Let’s focus on winter as much or even more. What could we do to help people feel connected, happy, and safe during the winter months – even during a pandemic?

In November 2020, the Barr Foundation Mobility team hosted a two-part webinar series exploring how people in cold-weather cities stay active and engaged throughout the winter. Part I focused on inspiration: how have cities reimagined and transformed winter? How have cultures changed to be more open minded?

Part II followed up with the nuts-and-bolts – the implementation: how to actually try out some of these ideas. Local practitioners shared their in-progress plans for how they are (safely) innovating in their communities this season.

So how do we embrace winter, while also being mindful of not attracting big crowds this year? A few key insights from the webinars:

Can we find joy this winter? Boston Globe contributor Renee Loth says absolutely yes, (“but some creamy hot chocolate around a fire pit wouldn’t hurt”).

A special thanks to our terrific speakers:

Resources:

authors and contributors:

Lisa Jacobson poses for a headshot. She has shoulder-length wavy hair and wears a plum colored top. She smiles joyfully.

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