From Manhattan’s sky-high grid
to the tangled sprawl of Los Angeles,
urban and regional planners play
a key role in making sure cities
become more connected communities
rather than concrete jungles.
Urban and regional planners develop plans
for how land will be used,
and oversee complex projects
that help accommodate population growth
while retaining—or revitalizing—
functional communities.
The zoning policies they administer
have an impact not just on historic buildings,
but also on the environment,
housing, transportation, and more.
Using statistical techniques,
field investigations, and technology,
urban and regional planners gather
and analyze data to understand
the current and future needs
of their local area.
They develop plans to address
the needs they uncover…
from planning new parks and schools
to meet anticipated growth,
or sheltering the homeless,
to making changes that might attract
business development.
Urban and regional planners
present their project proposals to communities,
officials, and planning commissions.
Their recommendations help
guide decision makers to consider
all the factors involved in a new project.
Most urban and regional planners
work for local government.
They may work evenings or weekends
to attend meetings with neighborhood groups,
and frequently leave the office
to inspect proposed development sites.
Urban and regional planners
need a master’s degree
from an accredited planning program
to qualify for most positions.