Public Participation and Evolution of Urban Planning System in the U.S.

From 1960s, public participation in urban planning has grown rapidly in the influence of civic movement and government innovation in the Western countries. After its development in three decades, not only the social political environment, but the aims and scope of participation activities have experienced dramatic changes. Furthermore, public participation has become a major factor which has its own impacts on the evolution of urban planning system. After reviewing the historical development of participatory planning in the U.S., this paper aims to analyze the procedures and contents of participatory activities in planning process, illustrate its characters and problems, and discuss its influences and trends of institution evolution.