Traditional urban planning in centralized governance systems often lacks meaningful public engagement, leading to projects that fail to meet local needs. The “Our Neighborhood” project in Mashhad, Iran, represents an attempt to implement a bottom-up, participatory approach to urban development in a non-participatory context. Over three years, and with the assistance of facilitator groups, this initiative fostered collaboration between residents and municipal authorities, enabling community-driven improvements across 243 locations. This study employs a qualitative case study approach to examine the challenges and successes of this initiative. Data was collected through structured interviews with municipal officials, city council members, and facilitator groups, as well as surveys completed by residents across different neighborhoods. The analysis focuses on key factors such as overcoming administrative resistance, fostering community trust, and institutionalizing participatory mechanisms. Findings highlight the crucial role of facilitator groups in enhancing stakeholder collaboration, and also accentuate the importance of adaptive planning and inclusive participation in ensuring project effectiveness. Although being successful in some aspects, findings suggest that the project\\\\\\\'s sustainability remains uncertain without institutional reforms that formally embed participatory mechanisms in governance frameworks. By documenting the “Our Neighborhood” initiative, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on participatory urban planning, offering insights for cities seeking to balance top-down governance with bottom-up decision-making. It underscores the potential for participatory models to foster civic trust and create more inclusive and responsive urban development strategies.

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