November/December 2008

Planning for Family Friendly Communities

By Evelyn Israel and Mildred Warner

Planners are concerned with the health of their municipalities and regions, and regularly confront issues that affect families. However, the vast majority of planners do not consider children in comprehensive plans. In a society that is increasingly concerned with environmental sustainability because of its effects on future generations, shouldn't we, as planners, also be concerned with planning communities for people from childhood to old age? Planners can play a role in creating more family friendly communities with housing at affordable prices, access to child care, parks, pedestrian pathways, quality public schools, safe neighborhoods, and many other potential features that promote family well-being. With nearly 200 attendees at a session devoted to planning family friendly communities at the APA's 2008 National Planning Conference, this issue is drawing growing concern and attention from planners.

APA, in collaboration with Cornell University, conducted a survey in spring 2008 to assess attitudes about and barriers to creating family friendly communities, as well as current planning practice. The survey was answered by more than 900 planners from across the country and showed that planners are remarkably positive about the importance of families to communities and the role planners can play in designing communities that better meet families' needs. This PAS Memo describes the results of that survey.

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