National Community Planning Month

Each year APA, its members, chapters, divisions, and professional institute sponsor National Community Planning Month to raise the visibility of the important role of planners and planning in communities across the U.S.

Help elevate the role of planning in your community. Host a planning department or planning commission open house, talk to kids in schools about a career in planning, present a library display about planning and planners, sponsor a neighborhood tour to highlight how planning helps the community.

10 Ways You Can Celebrate National Community Planning Month

Not sure what to do this October to celebrate National Community Planning Month? Check out what other communities have done under the Share Your Activities. Don't forget to submit your activities to the list by emailing ncpm@planning.org.

1. Declare that October is National Community Planning Month with a proclamation.
2. Hold a department open house.
   Highlight your work and how planning benefits the community.
3. Host a neighborhood walking or bicycling tour.
   Highlight the planning work in your community.
4. Create a library display about planning.
   Include a recommended planning-related reading list.
5. Honor your planning commissioners during a city council meeting.
6. Check out the Youth and Students page for ideas on engaging youth in planning.
7. Sponsor a community photo contest.
   Ask residents to photograph their favorite places within the community.
8. Screen a planning-focused film.
9. Host a forum or lecture about your community's history.
10. Promote national community planning month through your website, Facebook page, or other social media outlet.

Public Service Announcements

APA has created recorded and live-read public service announcements (PSAs) to celebrate the importance of planning this October.

Listen to PSAs

Thinking About Becoming an Urban Planner?

Michael Bayer, AICP, Nancy Frank, AICP, and Jason Valerius, AICP, discuss their new book, Becoming an Urban Planner during APA's 2010 National Planning Conference in New Orleans.

Read "Becoming an Urban Planner: What Planners Do," an excerpt of Becoming an Urban Planner (pdf)

Purchase a copy of Becoming an Urban Planner