Urban Planning as an Instrument of Division in U.S. Cities

Urban planning in the U.S. has historically been used to segregate, exclude, and erase communities, according to an article on ArchDaily. The field is often confused with urban design, environmental policy, and local politics, making it difficult to define. When planning works well, it becomes invisible, removing friction from daily life. However, zoning maps, infrastructure investment, and land-use decisions reveal who holds power and whose interests are protected. This history is embedded in city boundaries and in the assumption that participation requires expertise most residents lack.