Abstract: In the context of grid management，participatory governance has emerged as a prominent concept with various functions, including policy mobilization, legitimacy maintenance, public service quality improvement, and accountability enhancement. However, this concept falls short in providing comprehensive answers to fundamental questions such as “who participates” “whether to participate”, and “how to participate”. Advocates of participatory governance often provide contradictory explanations when confronted with administrative pathologies such as symbolic and contentious participation. Resolving the inherent challenges of communication and mobilization requires the involvement of third-party forces. One promising approach is the utilization of a loose alliance called the Community Planner Team, consisting of university professors, planners, and members of social organizations in the Micro Garden project in City A’s X Street. Serving as a third party, they facilitate resource connection, capacity building, and communication. By analyzing the strategies employed by this group, we can glean initial insights into expert-activated participation, offer new directions for the study of social governance.

Key words: participatory governance, experts, community planners