Neighborhood planning is a process by which residents gather to identify assets and agree on priorities for neighborhood improvement, and to devise strategies to achieve their goals. During these conversations, neighbors ask themselves “what is working well in our neighborhood that we want to protect?” and “what is not up to our standards and how can we improve it?” They ask themselves “what is it about this place that draws us here and what will keep us here in the future?

Neighborhood planning literally begins with a walk around the block to assess and document physical and environmental conditions. City planners then meet with neighbors to identify social conditions and neighborhood assets. By articulating goals to protect the physical and social environment, planners help neighbors develop a plan that will protect existing neighborhood assets and help residents manage change.

Ideally, neighborhood plans should be updated every five-to-ten years.