Jane’s Walks, or how to celebrate the birthday of one of the most famous urban planners of the twentieth century. Jane’s Walks were inaugurated on May 5, 2007, in Toronto, by the Center for the Living City. The Center for the Living City is a nonprofit organization created by Jane Jacobs’ friends to “celebrate her life and legacy by helping people organize walks in their communities around the time of Jane’s birthday in early May.”
Every year since, free neighborhood tours have been held to honor the legacy of the urban activist who argued for “mixed use neighborhoods” and “eyes on the street.” From its first year in Toronto with 27 tours, Jane’s Walks expanded to New York City with the help of Jane Farrow, a CBC broadcaster. Today, Jane’s Walk has expanded to over 75 cities in 15 countries in with over 500 neighborhood tours available.
This year Jane’s Walks will occur in New York City on May 5th and 6th, in partnership with the Municipal Art Society. There will be over 70 free guided walks and bike rides, including locations featured on Partners in Preservation, a partner of Untapped Cities.
While all of the tours should exhibit a side of the City often over looked, here are some of our picks for the best of the 2012 Jane’s Walks. Some of the tours require you to RSVP so be sure to read carefully.
