WHO WE ARE

Elena Madison

Elena Madison is an urban planner with a focus on open space planning, community organizing and transportation planning. Elena has participated as a team member, assisted in project management and managed a number of PPS’ most recent and exciting projects. Currently, she is managing a placemaking and visioning effort with NJDOT for the area along Rte. I-280 in Newark. She is also assisting in management and research for an online resource center on Context Sensitive Solutions commissioned by the FHWA.

Recently Elena worked on a public space plan for downtown Mobile, Alabama, a plan for pedestrian enhancements along the Vine Street Expressway in Philadelphia, PA, and a waterfront access study in Newark, NJ. Additionally, she was the project manager for two planning initiatives in Jamaica, Queens: an open space plan for Baisley Pond Park in Jamaica, NY and a plan for creating and improving public spaces in Jamaica Center. She also managed a “model project” in context-sensitive design in the Roseville community of Newark. Elena has assisted in project management and has conducted placemaking initiatives, workshops and trainings on projects involving issues such as public and open space improvements, streetscape and transportation enhancements. Projects she has worked on include: a revitalization of Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, including road and sidewalk redesign aimed at encouraging pedestrian and economic activity along the avenue; Transit Friendly Communities, a technical assistance program conducted in partnership with NJ Transit in eleven NJ train stations; survey and observation analysis of park use in five Catalyst parks in New York City conducted for Partnerships for Parks.

Elena joined PPS after obtaining her Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and completing a year long internship with the organization. During her graduate study, she worked as a member of the Hunter College planning team on a community technology center in Coney Island, New York. The project was developed for the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, and received second prize at the 2001 Chase Community Development Competition.

Prior to entering graduate school, Elena spent 10 months in Morocco as a project assistant on the Master Plan and Zoning Resolution for the city of Tan Tan, Morocco. She worked with an international team of planners, engineers and architects, the diverse community of Tan Tan, regional and local government.

Education

City University of New York, Hunter College, Master of Urban Planning, 2001
College of Mount St. Vincent, Bachelor of Arts, 1997

Professional Affiliations

American Planning Association

Awards

American Planning Association Robert C. Weinberg student award for outstanding achievement 2001

Foreign Languages

Bulgarian
French
Russian

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