The MacArthur Neighborhood Urban Plan is the result of a program designed by students at the University of California at Berkeley. These graduate students in the Department of City and Regional Planning wanted to share their knowledge of relevant planning issues and skills with high school students.
The program is based on the educational simulation in UrbanPlan, a high school curriculum unit developed by the Urban Land Institute.
Four years ago, Berkeley students used the ULI simulation model to teach Oakland high school students about the complexities of revitalizing and redeveloping an urban neighborhood. Since then, the Urban Plan program has evolved to directly address students' interests in the specific issues of their own neighborhood.
Berkeley's model program creates an opportunity for high school students to integrate the abstract subjects learned in the classroom, and apply the knowledge to helping them understand their immediate environment; thereby making learning more relevant in their lives.
The program consists of 14 two-hour sessions spread over a month. During this time, Berkeley students go to Oakland Technical High School to teach in a classroom environment. The curriculum is divided into three phases: an introduction, a walking tour and site analysis, and lastly, the development and presentation of neighborhood plans for a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station.
The first phase introduces high school students to urban planning including the various professions involved in the planning process and the relationship between public, private, non-profit, and community groups. Several exercises, such as a community autobiography, are used to help students envision their ideal neighborhood. The discussion focuses on both the physical and social characteristics of neighborhoods. Finally, the concept of an "urban plan" is presented as a tool for creating change in the physical environment.
The second phase involves a walking tour of the neighborhood site selected for study, in this case, the MacArthur BART Station. Students are divided into five groups to examine the history, natural factors, land use, built form, and transportation of the study area. Each group walks the site, gathering information and using maps and taking photographs. The groups will share their findings to the entire class in the form of a verbal and graphic presentation. Students attempt to present accurate analytical findings, but also prepare attractive displays.
The third phase focuses primarily on the work of small "design" teams of Oakland Tech students to create specific plans for the MacArthur BART neighborhood area. This final phase consists of a role playing activity, a financial feasibility analysis, the development of specific plans using a design charrette format, and a final presentation to the entire class as well as invited jurors. Jurors usually include local planning directors, politicians, and planning practitioners.
After developing draft proposals for neighborhood plans, each team considers the financial feasibility of each proposal using a worksheet developed for this part of the exercise. A challenge for students is to create development scenarios that generate a profit, while including neighborhood amenities such as community centers and parks. Based on initial calculations of the financial worksheet, each group revises their plan to address financial considerations. Each team must consider financial cost, social benefit, and community goals collectively. On the final day, each team presents their "urban plan" to the entire class and invited jurors.
The Urban Plan program succeeds by engaging students in developing skills and the confidence to participate in shaping their surroundings. Some key ingredients for a successful program include:
1. A focus on issues relevant to students and their community
2. An easy format to analyze the physical environment
3. A team approach to problem solving and developing creative consensus-based solutions
4. An integration of research, interpretive, design, and decision-making skills
5. A variety of teaching/learning methods and styles that appeal to high school students: video, mapping, role playing, site visits, analysis, graphic presentations
This program can be adapted to a variety of contexts and educational levels. It provides a basis to examine complex social, economic and political relationships and hone problem solving and critical thinking skills. Making connections between high school and Berkeley graduate students with their immediate environment is both empowering and enabling. Not only do these connections represent a hands-on approach to learning about neighborhoods and communities, but they also translate into other forms of problem-solving and lifestyle choices.
Michael Rios is the former program coordinator for UrbanPlan and is currently on the Board of Directors for Urban Ecology.
