In 2024, Minneapolis became the second city in the United States to be deemed a Child Friendly City by UNICEF. As a young dad, I am excited about this. It says a lot about the strength of our local government, community and policies.
In addition, the Minneapolis Downtown Council released Downtown by Design, the city’s ambitious development plan comprised of 52 objectives to be achieved by 2035, (the “2035 Plan”). As a city planning graduate student, I support the 2035 Plan, which aims to cultivate stronger neighborhoods, streamline systems, increase safety and create an attractive place where people want to live. In my view, the 2035 Plan strives for everything our downtown needs right now, except one thing: Where are the kids?
Of the 52 projects identified in the 2035 Plan, not one of them specifically addresses families with young children. Teenagers are mentioned in regards to safety, and I agree we need more low- and no-cost teen spaces. But children of all ages deserve inclusion by design, and I believe that a child-friendly downtown is better for all of us.
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A 2017 study by Arup found that child-friendly design benefits kids, adults and cities. Where kids go, adults follow, and Arup ties the interaction between kids and nature as an indicator of a city’s overall health. The more kids you see in wild spaces, the more likely a city is to be experiencing health and economic success.
In our case, Nicollet Mall is the connecting link between downtown’s largest parks (Loring Park and the Sculpture Garden) and our most significant natural feature, the Mississippi riverfront. If we pedestrianize Nicolett Mall the way the 2035 Plan imagines, and provide child amenities and housing along the way, it will be transformative for downtown.
Walkable neighborhoods provide a less car-dependent lifestyle for families, which reduces the risk of auto-based accidents, a leading cause of death for kids. Walkability leads to better physical and mental health outcomes for kids as they grow. Right now, the 2035 Plan makes room for dog parks, but what about playgrounds? Nicollet Mall should include at least three playgrounds similar to Barcelona’s super blocks.
People may argue we shouldn’t focus on the kids when most of them live outside downtown. It’s true, the median resident age downtown is 33, childless, and any real estate agent will confirm that city-dwellers who want to have kids will soon move to the suburbs. But I say, let’s give young families a reason to stay. It’s good for the economy! Kids born and raised in walkable cites have a better chance of social and economic success. Raising kids in the city also helps them develop greater financial independence and exposes them to greater cultural diversity.
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UNICEF tells us we are a kid-friendly city, and we have a plan to improve our downtown. Let’s take advantage of our growth and progressive ambition to make Minneapolis a truly child-friendly city. Colorado planners are even asking kids to get involved in the planning process, and I say why not? Kid-friendly planning will make a better city for all of us.
Branch Johnson-Roets is a graduate student in urban and regional planning at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
The post How to make downtown Minneapolis more kid-friendly appeared first on MinnPost.
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