‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Madison
When Madison looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for climate resilience.
Mentioned on the show:
- Water Square and its creative facilitators: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/25/grain-collective-basketball-courts-flood-prevention/
- Rotterdam’s own “water square”: https://landezine.com/water-square-benthemplein-by-de-urbanisten/
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
Proposed Data Center Plan, Alleged Frat Hazing, and Mayoral Race Update
What will happen when the city’s one-year moratorium on new data centers expires in January? City officials released a draft framework th...
New Cafe Coming to Monroe Street and a Week Without Driving in Madison
A new cafe is set to open this month on Monroe Street. Waltzing Matilda’s is the newest venture from the team behind Bloom Bake Shop and...
Your Guide to October 2026 in Madison
Boo! The City Cast Madison team is here with your October guide. Host Bianca Martin, Creative Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and local comedia...
UW Homecoming 101, Plus Tailgate Like a Badger
The UW Badgers face off against Michigan State in the 2026 homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 3. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and...
How Much Do You Need To Make To Live in Madison?
How much money do you make? Is it enough for you to thrive in Madison? Cap Times reporter Ashley Rodriguez asked Madisonians to be transp...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Madison
What’s a seemingly small project in Madison that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has jus...
Madison Police Updates, Power Line Pushback, and New Library Opens
This week, Madison Police Chief John Patterson gave his quarterly report to the Madison Common Council and announced a new quality assura...
A Pakistani-Midwest Cookbook and a Phone Booth Memorial on Madison’s East Side
The restaurateur behind Sultan restaurant on Williamson Street has a new cookbook out. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with Su...
An Insider’s Guide to the First Cap Times Photojournalism Summit
This week, the Cap Times is hosting its first Photojournalism Summit as part of its 10th annual Idea Fest. City Cast Host Bianca Martin i...
Where Are the Badger Fans? Who Is Daisy Davenport? And What Referendums Are on the Ballot?
With six weeks left until the November 3rd election, it’s time to get in the know about the constitutional amendments you will be asked t...