When designing a city for the future, rarely do future residents participate. But in Holden, Mass., the voice of the future is being heard as elementary school students are being asked what they want to see in their town in the future.
Community involvement in the planning process has become increasingly important in recent years. And now, in Holden, Massachusetts, a new method of gathering public input is tapping the desires of the town's youngest residents: elementary school students.
The students have been asked to submit their ideas about what their town should look like in the future. Their ideas have been articulated just as one would expect: coloring crayons.
"The suggestion to involve students originated with the Holden Master Plan Committee, where, Co-chair Mike Wronski says, the committee decided they didn't want the town's master plan to be consultant driven, but community-driven. And like DeFrino, the committee realized children are key to planning a community's future."
"Some youngsters in the Wachusett Region may already be tapped into this process. Children in Holden's summer recreation program and those who attended Holden Days have already drawn some pictures highlighting what they value in town. Wronski says there are already some clear differences between what children see and what adults have already identified as priorities in the community."
FULL STORY: Kids' vision of the future vital to master planning efforts
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.