Neighborhoods for Kids

Brent Toderian, writing for Planetizen:

So should we want families downtown?

I strongly believe we should. They’re a big part of complete, mixed, vibrant and lively downtown neighbourhoods. Singles, seniors and couples downtown may be great, but kids and baby-strollers make communities more real, more human. They also support a broader local economy, and make the community safer.

Brent has some good suggestions for how to create dense, compact neighborhoods that work for families but I think his larger point is best - if we don’t design with families in mind we won’t attract any families. Families need amenities that aren’t as important for other demographics. Kids need parks and playgrounds, parents need schools and day cares. Accessible public open space is extremely important for denser neighborhoods that don’t have private yards. With the proper amenities and design, any neighborhood can be great for families and the addition of kids always makes a neighborhood more vibrant.