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Montgomery Parks Virtual Speaker Series | Post-COVID People, Parks & Cities: Learnings from a Pandemic
March 23, 2021, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | REGISTER
The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the necessity of parks and open space, but also magnified issues that have long existed including; lack of equity, poverty, deficiency of parks in quantity and quality, shortage of recreation programs, poor sidewalks, unsustainable mobility, and unsafe streets. Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of 880 Cities, sees this current moment as one of great opportunity for cities to become more equitable and sustainable. Penalosa will share examples of how cities around the world have responded to the pandemic and build the case for why leaders must act now and make difficult changes to create, plan, and manage cities radically different.

SPEAKER

Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa, MBA, PhDhc, CSP

Gil Penalosa is passionate about creating vibrant and healthy cities for all people. Because of his unique blend of experience, pragmatism and passion, he has been invited him to work in over 350 different cities in all continents. Gil is the founder and chair of the internationally recognized Canadian non-profit organization 8 80 Cities. He is also first Ambassador of World Urban Parks and creator of the project Our Third Act. Before immigrating to Canada, Gil was Commissioner in Bogota where he led the construction of over 200 parks and development of new Ciclovia, where each Sunday 1 of 4 citizens participate. He holds an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where he was selected as one of the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” in the school’s history. Gil received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at the prominent University in Sweden, SLU. Last year Gil was in Planetizen’s Top 50 Most Influential Urbanists and recently received in Australia the World Urban Parks Annual Distinguished Individual Award.