School Planning: A New Paradigm

Communities benefit when schools are physically closer to communities.

1 minute read

October 3, 2001, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Federal school construction guidelines, which local school boards often use in their decision-making process, favor building new facilities instead of revitalizing older ones. The recommendations for a high school, for example, — 30 acres of land plus one acre for every 100 students — result in huge institutional-sized complexes surrounded by acres of parking lots and athletic facilities. These locations distance students from their neighborhoods and virtually eliminate the centuries-old pastime of walking to school, or from school to the public library and local stores. School boards often make the decision to move facilities into outlying areas because they feel it is the best choice for students. The intention is good, but the effect is a dramatic loosening of the glue that bonds communities together."

Thanks to Michigan Land Use Institute

Tuesday, October 2, 2001 in Michigan Land Use Institute

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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