The Bottom-Up Revolution How Will Gardner Is Helping Build a Stronger South Coast
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Aug 28, 2025 Will Gardner, founder of South Coast Places For People and former creator of Alma del Mar Charter Schools, discusses pivotal community initiatives in Massachusetts. He shares insights on three working groups tackling parking reform, backyard cottages, and street safety. Will emphasizes the significance of local advocacy in urban design, reflecting on how thoughtful planning shapes community engagement. Additionally, he highlights the charm of Fairhaven and New Bedford, weaving personal stories into the push for more people-oriented public spaces.
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Childhood Freedom Shaped His View
- Will Gardner remembers biking and riding the T alone as a child, which opened worlds of independence.
- That early freedom shaped his appreciation for walkable, transit-rich places.
Bike Bus Became A Community Ritual
- Will describes organizing a bike bus to school using a local rail trail and turning it into a community ritual.
- The bike bus built social ties among parents while making travel fun and practical for kids.
Design Details Exclude Many People
- Will realized design details like lack of buffer zones and poor visibility exclude families and elders from biking or walking.
- He argues decision-makers often assess streets from their own comfortable perspective, missing wider accessibility needs.
