It's just as important to give praise when something good happens as it is to criticize when something bad happens. Today, the Department of Transportation deserves praise for some of their recent activities that are embracing some of the new urbanist principles of creating pleasant walkable downtown areas. One example is their new plan near the Fulton Mall in Brooklyn to create a more pedestrian friendly area.

Work on a temporary plaza, which will be separated from traffic using planters and will include benches, chairs, tables and bike racks, is scheduled to begin in early May. If the project is successful, a permanent, raised plaza will be constructed, providing nearly 7,000 square feet of new, attractive public space for Downtown Brooklyn.

All I can say is "amen" and thanks DOT! Can we get some more of these spread out across every neighborhood?

Also check out Brooklyn resident [Aaron Naparstek's post http://www.naparstek.com/2006/03/pedestrian-mall-revolution.php].