How participatory processes impact children and contribute to planning: a case study of neighborhood design from Boulder, Colorado, USA

Abstract

Young people have much to offer urban planning, yet are not often included in such processes. A unique partnership in Boulder, Colorado, provides a venue for young people’s participation in city planning. Boulder is in many ways a learning laboratory with progressive ideals and sustainability thinking. As the city began planning for its Comprehensive Housing Strategy, tensions about the future of density within the city emerged. Participatory planning can have significant impacts on children and can also contribute new ideas to planning processes. In this study, young people demonstrated attitudinal changes toward government, increased recognition of diverse needs within a city, and integration of social and environmental sustainability into their recommendations for neighborhood planning.

Keywords:

• Urban sustainability
• child-friendly cities
• density
• livable communities
• participatory planning

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the many partners who helped make this project a reality, including Growing Up Boulder (GUB) coordinator Mara Mintzer; GUB intern Nathalie Doyle and graduate student Flaminia Martufi; Whittier International Elementary School teachers Cathy Hill, Lisa O’Brien, Tamar Van Vliet; and Boulder high school teacher Jennifer Douglas-Larsson; the City of Boulder’s Executive Director of Community Planning and Sustainability, David Driskell; the University of Colorado’s Campus Architect, Tom Goodhew; and the many children and youths who contributed their enthusiasm and ideas to this project The authors thank GUB interns Nathan Brien, Travis Cobb, Grayson O’Roark, Ivan Patino, and Emily Tarantini for their assistance with data analysis and presentation of results. The authors also acknowledge the many partners and people who contribute to GUB, especially Professors Emeritae Willem van Vliet and Louise Chawla, whose vision has made this initiative possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.