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47th Conference in Portland

47th International
Making Cities Livable Conference on

TRUE URBANISM:
CITIES FOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING

& Exhibit on

SUCCESSFUL URBAN PLAZAS & NATURE SPACES

Co-Sponsors: City of Portland, Portland Metro Council

The Governor Hotel
Portland, OR
May 10-14, 2009

David Bragdon On behalf of my colleagues at the Metro Council, I am pleased to welcome you to the Portland metropolitan region for the 47th International Making Cities Livable Conference. We are pleased that our region continues to serve as a model for urban planning and smart growth. We hope that you will find time to explore some of the neighborhoods and communities that make us known for livability and smart planning.

The Portland metropolitan region comprises 25 cities in three counties. The Metro Council, responsible for land-use and transportation planning, regional facilities and parks, is committed to a thriving region that invests in community and quality of life. From curbing sprawl to protecting and investing in natural areas, we believe that the best way to plan for our future is to create it now. Plans must be implemented to create great places.

I hope you will enjoy the range of amenities offered by Portland, our region's vital core, and the surrounding cities and town centers. While there's a lot to be proud of in our region, we have challenges ahead. Just as you are here to study our example, I look forward to gaining my own fresh perspectives from your visit here.

David Bragdon
Metro Council President

Are you looking for a speaker?

Suzanne Lennard is available to speak, or as a Consultant on Making Cities Healthy and Livable, Child-friendly Communities, Public Places, etc.

"The conference was one of the most interesting and genuinely useful for information gathering that I’ve been to. The different backgrounds of the participants addressing the same issues was the key."

Joe Anglin Glatting Lopez Kercher Anglin

"A wonderful Conference. I truly believe this is the best Conference on cities."

Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., City of Charleston

"The most important continuous conference dialogue on making the world's cities and towns more livable for all of their inhabitants."

Dr. Sven von Ungern-Sternberg, Governor, State of South Baden, Germany

"Congratulations for your extraordinary and successful effort. The Conference holds a magnifying glass to the world’s best cities, revealing why, and how they work."

Benjamin Thompson, FAIA AIA Gold Medalist

"Love for our cities unites all of us in this unique, impressive conference, with participants from different countries, with different professional backgrounds, but with one purpose: making our cities more livable."

Antonio Casellati Former Mayor, City of Venice, Italy

"Thank you for the utterly fascinating conference in Santa Fe... It has been a long time since I have been intellectually stimulated and been involved with such international creativity and innovations. The conference energized me and I was able to bring back ideas and information to my city."

Councilmember Stephanie Karlin, Avondale, AZ

"What an amazing conference! One of the best professional events I have ever attended!! Well-structured, extremely well-organized and super-high quality of both the presenters and materials presented."

Dr. Mirela Newman, Coordinator, Urban Studies Graduate Program, S Conn St. University

The Forgotten Child

“There is no topic more crucial to the well-being of our cities and of our democracy, and no one more qualified to give it the thoughtful attention it deserves.”