Urban Planning For Dummies

Find out how to plan a great future for your community Urban planning is vital to the future success of cities, towns, and suburbs across the globe. Urban plans help communities take stock of what′s good and bad about the community in the present and determine the best improvements to make for the future. With the majority of the world′s population shifting to urban areas, it has become an increasingly vital profession. Whether you′re thinking about a career in urban planning or looking for a way to get more involved in your community, Urban Planning For Dummies will give you a practical overview of this fascinating field, including determining the best uses for land, planning for transportation and economic development, and discovering how urban plans are made and carried out. Understand the building blocks of urban planning — explore all the different elements that contribute to the community′s quality of life and a more sustainable local environment Explore the relationship between urban planning and the built environment — see how good urban design can make healthier, more attractive communities Examine the components of a comprehensive urban plan — learn the roles that land use, housing, transportation, natural resources, infrastructure, open space, and public services play in shaping a community Grasp the challenges that urban planners face — find out how pollution, rapid population growth, economic distress, and recovery from natural disasters affect the quality of life in cities and towns Be more involved — discover how a better understanding of urban planning can help you create more successful communities where you live Open the book and find: How to create a sustainable community What resources are needed to make a good plan How to find useful information about your community The challenges facing today′s cities, suburbs, and towns The role of urban planning in developing countries How to get hands–on experience Ways to improve and enhance your community Real–world examples Learn to: Understand how cities and towns grow and change Plan for housing, transportation, and land use Explore how urban plans get made Design greener cities and sustainable communities

Foreword xix Introduction 1 Part I: What Is Urban Planning 7 Chapter 1: Making Great Cities: Why Planning Matters 9 Chapter 2: Changing Places: Planning for the 21st Century 23 Chapter 3: Who Makes Urban Plans and Why 43 Chapter 4: Making Plans: A Step–by–Step Approach 57 Part II: Putting All the Pieces Together: The Main Components of an Urban Plan 75 Chapter 5: Land Use: A Place for Everything 77 Chapter 6: Housing: A Place to Call Home 97 Chapter 7: Moving the City: Transportation 119 Chapter 8: The City Beautiful: Urban Design 135 Chapter 9: The Great Outdoors: Natural Resources, Open Space, and More 149 Chapter 10: Infrastructure and Public Services: Something for Everyone 163 Part III: Hot Topics and Urban Planning Challenges 179 Chapter 11: Greening the City: Making Sustainable Places 181 Chapter 12: Urban Revitalization: Cities on the Rebound 195 Chapter 13: Rushing to the Suburbs: Managing Sprawl 207 Chapter 14: Healing the City: Planning and Disasters 223 Chapter 15: Taking Care of Business: Jobs and Economic Development 237 Chapter 16: Global Urban Planning: Answering the Challenges of Growth and Development 253 Part IV: Getting Involved and Going Further 267 Chapter 17: Getting Involved in Your Community 269 Chapter 18: Becoming a Professional Urban Planner 279 Part V: The Part of Tens 291 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Make Your Community a Better Place to Live, Work, and Play 293 Chapter 20: Ten Great Cities with Great Plans 301 Chapter 21: Ten Urban Plans You Can Find Online 309 Appendix: Resources 317 Index 325

Jordan Yin, PhD, AICP, is a faculty member of the College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has published research articles in leading academic journals, including Urban Affairs Review and Journal of Urban Affairs, and his work as an urban planner has been reported on by National Public Radio, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.