The postwar American suburb, once a symbol of prosperity and domestic idealism, has evolved into a fragmented, ecologically damaging, and socially isolating landscape. Plan It is an interactive planning game that reimagines suburban development as a collaborative and site-specific process. Players use environmental data layers such as flood risk, soil quality, and biodiversity to design neighborhoods that are resilient, inclusive, and ecologically attuned. The game evaluates each design using environmental, economic, and social metrics, helping players make informed decisions within their specific context. Plan It functions as a design tool, a public engagement platform, and a research archive that reveals how individuals navigate the complexity of suburban planning. Through gameplay, it fosters a new approach to community science and the democratization of urbanism, challenging conventional development patterns and envisioning more sustainable futures.

Abstract