Building Our City Speaker Series: Mitch Silver

Cities determine their futures by the policies and practices they adopt. Join us for this free four-part speaker series featuring national experts on urban design, planning, placemaking, transportation and other community development topics to explore the role of thoughtful design in building livable communities. On November 13, hear from renowned planner and urbanist, Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver who has lead the New York City Parks Department since 2014. He oversees management, planning and operations of nearly 30,000 acres of parkland, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, marinas, recreation centers, wilderness areas and other assets. Mitchell is continually developing tools for local governance and 21st century urban planning on an international scale; this zealous dedication is reflected throughout his career in his publications and leading role in shaping the built environment

Mr. Silver’s insight is invaluable to Asheville. This visit will focus on the impact of planning and placemaking on physical and mental wellbeing. He will also share learnings from a variety of projects during his role in New York, such as the Community Parks Equity Initiative, Parks without Borders, and Cool Pools and Creative Courts.