The greening, and sometimes the “pedestrianizing,” of pockets of big cities is a long-running international story. It’s one with some clear positives. Green, less traffic-filled cities are cooler and quieter, for example. But doing it right requires a continuity of leadership and a vision that’s inclusive.

As Jingnan Peng reported recently from Louisville, Kentucky, a central requirement is the trust of residents. Reimagining public space affects residential access and needed commerce. Collective aims need to be clear.

Erika Page reports today on how, in Barcelona, Spain, a city increasingly wary of tourism, “superblocks” are being met with hopeful interest, but also with some skepticism. Encouragingly, the city seems to be taking residents’ concerns to heart.