How can cities foster social cohesion in rapidly developing areas?

Promoting mixed-use neighborhoods encourages daily interactions and reduces segregation. Additionally, ensuring the availability of affordable housing options is crucial to maintaining an inclusive community. Developing public parks, playgrounds, and community centers provides essential gathering places for people of all ages and backgrounds. These spaces, coupled with cultural and community events like festivals and markets, celebrate diversity and unite residents, fostering a sense of belonging and shared community identity. In addition, creating intergenerational programs that connect older adults with children through activities like storytelling, gardening, and mentoring can enhance the social lives of both groups.

Las ciudades pueden fomentar la cohesión social en zonas de rápido desarrollo al planificar espacios públicos desde una perspectiva de cuidado. Este enfoque prioriza la creación de entornos inclusivos y accesibles, como parques, áreas deportivas y jardines urbanos, que atiendan a personas de todas las edades y capacidades, y que también cuiden el medio ambiente. La infraestructura bien diseñada, incluyendo baños públicos y sistemas de saneamiento, no solo mejora la seguridad y conveniencia, sino que también genera empleos y ofrece espacios recreativos. Adoptar una perspectiva de cuidado en el diseño urbano es clave para fortalecer la cohesión comunitaria.

It is important when getting involved in planning connected to economic development to collaborate from the outset with the professional economic developers covering the affected areas. Indeed, it could very well be that rapid growth is the result of initiatives launched by the economic developers and it would be mistake to not work in sync with them. The value of planners to economic developers is providing a road map to follow to assure that rapid growth does not falter by not taking into account critical needs including a consumer base, sufficient labor pool, adequate infrastructure to absorb and support the growth, etc.

One thing I found to be particularly effective in fostering social cohesion in rapidly developing areas is the creation of safe and walkable streets. This approach not only enhances the physical environment but also promotes social interactions and a sense of community.

El modelo tradicional de movilidad, centrado en un hombre blanco de clase media en vehículos motorizados, no considera las necesidades diversas de todos los habitantes. Para fomentar la cohesión social en zonas de rápido desarrollo, las ciudades deben adoptar un enfoque de cuidado en la movilidad. Esto implica diseñar sistemas de transporte inclusivos, accesibles y sostenibles, que faciliten el acceso a servicios esenciales y atiendan especialmente a aquellas personas que no han sido consideradas en los modelos tradicionales de movilidad, como las mujeres o las personas cuidadoras.

Las ciudades pueden fomentar la cohesión social en zonas de rápido desarrollo mediante la construcción de una infraestructura social sólida. Esto incluye garantizar servicios de cuidado esenciales, promover la participación comunitaria y crear espacios donde la comunidad pueda reunirse. Es importante socializar los servicios de cuidado y priorizar el apoyo comunitario sobre el aislamiento. La inversión en nuevos servicios públicos y la mejora de infraestructuras existentes son clave para crear entornos más cohesionados.

Areas which are enjoying rapid development usually reflect external forces which have deemed value in investing resources and time into new projects. It also for planners should signal a need to be attentive to potential strains put on such areas which are not fully prepared for such rapid growth. Such strains can include the public infrastructure such as roads, transit, water/sewer or demand for skilled labor exceeding available labor pool, etc. Planners can play a key role in assuring that such rapid growth does not go sideways or falter by proactive assessing what strains it is pressing on such areas and devise plans to address those strains.