Family-Friendly Downtown Living

What helps make a downtown family friendly? Safe places to play, safe streets, good schools and attainable housing, writes Jennifer Hill.

1 minute read

April 14, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By JohnLavey


play fountain

Dennis Jernberg / flickr

There are many ingredients that make downtowns friendly to the family. But what are some of the essentials? Writing for the Community Builders blog, Jennifer Hill winnows it down to four keys:

  1. Safe spaces for play
  2. Safer streets and sidewalks
  3. Good schools
  4. Attainable housing

Says Jennifer: "Amenities like sidewalks, public spaces for play, schools and attainable housing all factor in to making downtowns more family friendly. Increasingly, families like ours that desire to live downtown will be heavily weighing the options of downtown living versus a new house in the latest new suburban development. It is paramount for cities across the Rocky Mountain West to consider how to attract and retain families in the downtown as they plan for additional growth."

Monday, April 13, 2015 in Community Builders

Young Professional

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 and Environmental 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.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 7, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

The mayor of Baltimore speaks into a microphone in front of a rally for more state transportation funding from Maryland.

‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan

Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.

October 2, 2026 - Baltimore Sun

A rendering of the waterfront development, which shows a lit-up stage by the waterfront and people walking about.

Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment

Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.

October 2, 2026 - ABC 7

The U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner and President Donald Trump at a press conference.

HUD, USDA agree on framework to simplify housing environmental review standards

Their agreement is a requirement of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

October 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Two hands install a water pipe in red dirt.

Cost of water rising at a faster pace than inflation, median household income

California and Maryland residents have seen their water bills grow especially high.

October 7 - Inside Climate News

A residential street with apartments in NYC.

NYC building owners overwhelmingly comply with new emissions limits

The New York City Department of Buildings is fining owners who did not file emissions reports.

October 7 - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.