Planning for the Next Generation

By Barbara Merryfield
Marketing Intern

An innovative program is turning upper elementary and middle school students, into young city planners. Oakland Schools in partnership with Oakland County’s Planning & Economic Development Services, has developed LandUse project. Since 2005, this extensive online program teaches students the process of land use planning.
 
The four-week online program begins with the following question: “How can the use of land in your community be improved so that the quality of life will encourage you to stay?”  Each class evaluates their community, and make suggestions based on what they feel is missing. The class then selects the top five suggestions, and divides into teams.

The teams conduct community surveys, study local ordinances and consult experts, who offer ongoing assistance.

The experts, Oakland County principal planners Charlotte Burckhardt and Larry Falardeau, review the proposals posted on the LandUse Blog ,and offer suggestions. For further guidance, students then interview the experts via video conference.

Finally, after weeks of detailed planning and research, students present their master plan to the expert panel.
These well-thought plans include the following:

• A group students in Berkley determined ways to expand and improve green space throughout the city.
• Another group proposed converting an abandoned building into a teen center.
• In Northville a class of fifth graders considered development options for the 430 acre State Psychiatric Hospital site, and evaluated the implications of relocating the downtown gazebo.
• Bloomfield hills students suggested purchasing vacant land from the school board and building a park. They calculated the cost of the project, and determined that the majority of taxpayers support the idea. On May 3, they will present their plan to the school board.
• Another group, who proposed an indoor Waterpark, plans to make a presentation to West Bloomfield officials.
• Students also suggested creating a downtown district for West Bloomfield at Maple and Orchard Lake Road.

After participating in this program students understand all aspects of planning; how it impacts their every day life, how it affects the environment and how the process works.
Furthermore, they gain the knowledge that city planning is a process that is open to all members of the community.  “Anyone can be involved,” said Burckhardt “they are welcome to the process.” In addition to planning skills, students also develop online research, data analysis and presentation skills.
 
For further information about this program or to learn how to bring it to your school, please contact Charlotte Burckhardt at 248-858-5443 or Larry Falardeau  at 248-858-5438.