Social media’s been tricky terrain for many U.S. city governments navigating the era of transparency and Twitter, but on Instagram this year, these municipal departments and leaders managed to capture with a snap the reasons we love urban living.
1. Boston nails the beach look.
2. Yes, Virginia, there is ice skating in the desert.
3. Raising funds with a Texas-sized cake. Yum. (Next City’s headed to Houston in May 2016 for our annual Vanguard conference.)
4. Pogo sticks offer a different perspective on the skyline.
5. Twice the love: NYCGov’s “Instagram ambassadors” program + cats (kinda).
6. One word: Popeadelphia.
7. Sending a message.
8. Here’s a twist on the doughnut-buying cop.
9. Never too young to learn about water conservation.
10. One thing the U.S. is no longer lacking: pics of bike-riding mayors.
11. When a city gov displays the good kind of hot air.
12. Citywide celebrations.
13. Modern or no, libraries are a vital community resource.
14. Next time you take a pretty tree shot at your fave city park, remember the space’s day-to-day maintenance.
15. L.A. DOT shows off its creative signal cabinets.