Urban sprawl is an occurrence that has gained much national attention in recent years. It is not only an issue of land use, but also a legal, political, and social concern. It affects our schools, the environment, and race relations. Comprehensive enough for high school students and also appropriate for undergraduate students, this book delves into the challenges of urban sprawl by looking to some of America's top thinkers on the matter, including Robert Yaro, the President of the Regional Plan Association. Other cutting-edge articles include a preface about the emergence of sprawl by nationally syndicated columnist Neal Peirce, views about race and class by former mayor of Albuquerque David Rusk, and views from Curtis Johnson, president of the Citistates Group, about transportation dynamics. After reading a detailed definition of urban sprawl, students will then explore the dynamics, negative impact, analysis, other cross-cutting issues, and the agenda to deal with sprawl. Complete with a glossary, resources, and contact information for smart growth alliances, this book is extremely user-friendly even for students.

Soule offers an unbiased viewpoint of this national event, while still keeping the information accessible to students as well as those who have little background in the matter.

David C. Soule is the associate director at the Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern Unversity where he condicts research on urban economic issues and tax policy and also teaches in the Political Science department. He is the principle advisor to the Regional Futures Institute of the National Association of Regional Councils, and a member of the Board of Directors and former officer of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship. Dr. Soule recently stepped down as executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) after more than 15 years of service. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of MetroPlan, a comprehensive paln for the future of the Boston metropolitan area. Prior to joining MAPC, he served as executive director of the Nashua Regional Planning Commission in Nashua, NH, for 7 years.