Promoting local development through urban spaces in Toluca, State of Mexico

Abstract

Local development in Toluca, State of Mexico, finds a strategic axis in urban planning focused on the recovery and creation of functional and inclusive urban spaces. This strategy significantly contributes to social cohesion, community resilience, and territorial sustainability. According to UNESCO, urban development involves a systemic articulation of economic, social, environmental, and physical dimensions aimed at collective well-being. This perspective enables the implementation of regional and socio-economic development policies that integrate local, metropolitan, and regional scales. In this context, efficient land use and territorial management in Toluca have fostered the revitalization of parks, pedestrian corridors, public spaces, and residential environments, facilitating urban transformation based on equity and sustainability criteria. The integration of adequate social housing is essential to prevent socio-spatial segregation and to ensure equitable access to services, infrastructure, and mobility. Likewise, the enhancement of built and symbolic heritage contributes to the recovery of local identity, the stimulation of the urban economy, and the creation of employment opportunities. To achieve these goals, an urban governance model is required—one that includes government entities, civil society, academia, and the private sector—supported by mechanisms such as municipal financing, citizen participation, and collaborative frameworks. Framed within decentralized planning processes, this model allows for the effective response to challenges such as climate change, inequality, and mobility. In this regard, Toluca may consolidate itself as a reference for sustainable, inclusive, and culturally significant territorial development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).