Tomorrow’s Community

A GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING RURAL
COMMUNITIES!

Communities are made up of people and the things that
people have and do—their programs, activities and interrela-
tionships. Like all things that are alive, communities are con-
stantly changing. These changes are beneficial to the extent
that advantageous choices are made and worthwhile programs
developed.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY PLANNING?

Community planning provides a way of looking ahead and
making the choices which contribute consistently to better
community life. It includes:

(1) analyzing community problems

(2) deciding on activities to be developed

(3) outlining steps by which programs can be achieved
(4) enlisting participation

(5) checking results

(6) keeping members of the community informed.

Community planning differs from other types of rural
planning in that it deals with all that enters into community
life in a local area. It aids land-use planning and comparable
endeavors by coordinating different interests and by showing
how one factor in community development is related to other
elements in the situation. In turn, each program which bene-
fits the people in a community is a part of community plan-
ning.

The various elements in community growth may be classified
in 10 groups as indicated in the following outline:

1 Prepared by Rural Sociology Section, Extension Service, Iowa State Col-
lege, Ames, Iowa.