A burgeoning do-it-yourself (DIY) urbanism movement is gaining notice in American and global cities as amateur designers create and implement small-scale interventions in urban public spaces. While tactics vary widely and may have some benefits for certain users, they nonetheless have the potential to complicate careful and considered long-term planning and urban design strategies. This article describes the historical and recent precedents upon which the current DIY urbanism movement is built and evaluates DIY interventions in light of their implications for cities, particularly how cities might engage with DIY projects in ways that maximize their potential for positive change while meeting objectives such as public safety, equity, and adherence to long-range visions.
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