Did you have time to get a vacation in this summer? If not, that’ll give you all the more reason to visit one of our National Parks this fall. The amazing Sierra Club has put together a fun subway map depicting all of our country’s great treasures. How many stops have you made along the way? Unfortunately, getting around our parks isn’t nearly as easy as this map would have you believe. However the clever design reminds us just how rich our country is in natural wonders.

There are the over two million acres of Yellowstone, home to Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Volcano, each a destination in its own right, not to mention grizzly bears, bison and wolves. Or take a visit to the Everglades, with over a million acres of protected area. This tropical paradise is home to mangrove and cypress trees, the endangered Florida Panther and Indian Manatee, and of course more than a few alligators and crocodiles.

The Sierra club has been working to protect our national parks for over a hundred years from the Everglades to the Grand Canyon to Redwook National Park. Now our future generations can enjoy them in their natural state. Plan a trip today and use the above map for inspiration.

Last week I had the pleasure of having my mind blown by a speech from Ms. Natalie Jeremijenko at a Lucid NYC event, a networking dinner that entertains with short presentations by big thinkers. Often I think the best solutions to environmental problems come from designers, and Jeremijenko has the distinct privilege of being an artist whose background spans biochemistry, physics and neuroscience. When solutions to giant problems are packaged through the mind of a designer, they’re easier digested by the public. She has a unique ability in making environmental solutions into concrete ideas and products that anyone could adapt. Additionally, Jeremijenko is dealing with issues in our own backyard, issues that affect New York City, but with solutions that could be implemented in any city in the U.S.

Here’s a look at some of the greatest projects she’s created so far through just a simple twist of modern design and science:

The Environmental Health Clinic

Visitors make an appointment and visit this NYU clinic similar to any medical facility. However, once they see a doctor they tell about a problem not just affecting them, but about their immediate environment. Once diagnosed, they leave with a prescription that can’t be filled at a drug store, but rather by actions to improve their surroundings. You can make an appointment on the website.

Farmacy

One thing any urban dweller is short on is space. A backyard garden is a luxury few know. However Farmacy turns any windowsill or outdoor ledge into farm terrain with an agbag, a bag of soil and seed that can grow any variety of greenery or edibles. It may just be the easiest form of urban gardening yet. Order an agbag kit online.

NoPark

Not only do these temporary parks provide much needed green space in a city, but they remind cars just where they can and cannot park. Situated in front of fire hydrants throughout the city, NoParks absorb storm water runoff with a carefully curated stretch of grass and moss. The result is fewer street puddles and richer soil for trees just yards away. And just like a real hydrant parking space, they’re available for parking just for emergency vehicles.

 A Vision for Long Island City

Jeremijenko’s latest show has her joining forces with fellow artists out to change the world: Rirkrit Tiravanija and Mary Miss, in order to better the environment in Long Island City, Queens at the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park. Over the decades, Long Island City has served as home to legendary artists, including celebrated sculptor Isamu Noguchi who created the namesake museum. But Long Island City is also home to factories, congestion, and traffic, as site of a vast network of companies that distribute food around New York. To counter the extreme exhaust, Jeremijenko has designed zip-lines running in-between buildings to help transport food with low carbon emission for LIC entities such as Fresh Direct and Tom Cat Bakery. An exercise program for residents involves climbing trees or hula-hooping with special circles that disperse wildflower seeds when swung. While anyone can now sign up for the exercise program, Jeremijenko is seeking volunteers to zip-line between Queens buildings, as well as funding to make the project become a reality. I’m looking forward to a future where urban zip-lining replaces auto transport where and whenever possible.

Check out Jeremijenko’s site for more inspiring projects including revolutionizing flight with wetlanding and getting personal with fowl through robotic geese.

My pal Alissa wrote, “What Happens When You Put a Coffee Table at a Bus Stop?” for Good, a thoughtful piece exploring how strangers interact with a nice environment at a mundane bus stop. As a one car family with a daily bus rider in our household, the article inspired me to think more about our boring old public transit spaces.

Placing a coffee table, newspaper and flowers at a bus stop in Koreatown, designer Julie Kim filmed passerbys and bus patrons interact with her decorative installation. The result? A 1.5-minute video that made me smile for much longer than 1.5 minutes. The young girls seen sitting at the table are really enjoying the set up and the sideways glances from everyone else appear more curious than critical.

I am not aware of  any initiatives to make these public spaces nicer (and my friends actually work for the MTA in the arts department). In a city as big as Los Angeles, it’s easy to forget about these services, spaces, and their patrons. Kim conceived the experimental project while pondering Los Angeles’ less glamorous, but highly trafficked surroundings. And she did something about it.

About a decade ago, I helped plant guerrilla gardens throughout downtown Los Angeles. More recently, I purchased seed bombs and lobbed them into boarded-up sites. What simple things can we do to beautify bus stops? Could we hang art (would it get stolen)? What about designing permanent coffee tables or something similar around town? Are there any biodegradable furniture companies out there who want to help?

Do you use public transportation where you live? Whether or not if you do, have you any ideas to share? What could we do as a community to make our boring bus stops more beautiful?! I’d love to hear your thoughts!