# Event Details

- **Event Name**:  The Happy City
- **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 19 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm – Tue, 19 May, 2026 at 04:00 pm (-05:00)
- **Event Description**: For most of human history, cities were designed to foster safety, economic exchange, and close social ties—conditions that supported not only cultural and scientific progress but also human health and happiness. In contrast, modern conveniences have increased physical and social distance, contributing to rising loneliness, which can be as harmful as smoking. Drawing on examples from the U.S. and Europe, this talk explores how communities can restore social connectedness through walkable design, accessible public spaces, and inclusive neighborhoods. Based on Charles Montgomery’s Happy City, it highlights how urban planning can meaningfully improve well-being and community life.
Presenter: Mark Plotz is a Road Safety Transportation Planner at the Region Nine Development Commission, where he develops county-level strategies to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries, with a focus on protecting vulnerable road users. His career spans more than 20 years, beginning in the Washington, D.C. area, followed by a move to Minnesota in 2019 to open a bike shop in St. Paul. He later relocated with his family to St. Peter in search of a more connected, walkable community. An avid cyclist, Mark owns several specialized bikes and commutes regularly by bike to his work in Mankato, regardless of the weather.
Sponsor: Steve Gilbert
All MALL members welcome. Please contact the office to register. 
Guests can register for a $15 fee.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/mankato/the-happy-city/200030030132929
- **Event Categories**: health-wellness, art, fine-arts
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 3

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Mankato
- **state**: MN
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Messiah Lutheran Church, 1706 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato
- **lat**: 44.1741
- **long**: -94.03459
- **full address**: Messiah Lutheran Church, 1706 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato, 1706 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003-2737, United States, Mankato

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: The Happy City
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/21977e12fcce0ca297cfef2252858183bba8967abb7b030941b94a921eb5f200-rimg-w621-h442-dc038797-gmir?v=1778768027

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is  The Happy City being held?
  - **A:** The Happy City takes place on Tue, 19 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Tue, 19 May, 2026 at 04:00 pm at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1706 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato, 1706 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003-2737, United States, Mankato.
- **Q**: Who is organizing  The Happy City?
  - **A:** The Happy City is organized by Mankato Area Lifelong Learners.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** The Happy City is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Mankato, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If  The Happy City sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

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