Planners Take San Diego
More than 3,000 planners attended the in-person NPC22 in San Diego, April 30-May 3. The group spread out throughout San Diego and the surrounding region to explore the area's planning endeavors and all the host city had to offer. Check out what got planners excited:
On the go
By bike, foot, scooter, and train, planners took to San Diego to explore the host city of NPC22.
Great fun today leading a mobile workshop on the Bayshore Bikeway for the American Planning Assoc. national convention with Greg Cox and @RandyTVV. #lifebybike #NPC22 #BayshoreBikeway pic.twitter.com/DMnsCLd5gU
— Stephan Vance (@VanceStephan) May 1, 2022
Great way to start Day 2 at #NPC22. Miles for breakfast with @VictoriaRTPI @JoelAlbizo. Got my 12 miles. Perfect weather with a cool breeze. pic.twitter.com/6QonxUgwpK
— Mitchell Silver (@mitchell_silver) May 1, 2022
Scooting down the Sixth Street #cycletrack in #SanDiego to #NPC22 with @BirdRide. pic.twitter.com/Gnp9yNIzE2
— Sarah Abel (@s_abel) April 30, 2022
Taking the green line to Little Italy for brunch and ArtWalk San Diego. #npc22 pic.twitter.com/VzPgNSENp5
— Whit Blanton, FAICP (@Whitbone) May 1, 2022
Flora
From beautification to helping combat climate change, attendees were focusing on the role of flora around the city.
How to spot a planning conference in your community: An abnormal abundance of people taking pictures of placemaking, architecture, and even signage. #NPC22 pic.twitter.com/59vN5IG0MJ
— Rural Resurrection 🇺🇦 (@ruralresurrect) May 1, 2022
Lovely shady green overhang at Civita Park in San Diego #greendesign #NPC22 @APA_Planning pic.twitter.com/HuQq1NyQVh
— Deborah Myerson, AICP 🏘 🏙 (@DeborahMyerson) May 1, 2022
Love this little attachment to a new tree in #SanDiego on J St! It’s these little things that can remind people how important landscaping is to function AND beauty. #NPC22#cityplanning #urbandesign #placemaking #climate #climateaction pic.twitter.com/B18PgF77JF
— Abra Nusser, AICP (@AbraAICP) April 30, 2022
Public Art
Murals and dance bring together arts and culture with planning.
Learning about one of the many wonderful mural boxes, places, and people of the #convoydistrict in San Diego. Lauren Garces from @ABASD explained that “Tied together with noodles” is about #AAPI representation and healing. @APA_Planning #NPC22 pic.twitter.com/SKytYcFpqh
— Jennifer Raitt (@JenniferRaitt) April 30, 2022
Arts and Planning Division Fiesta was Awesome!!! Best social event so far at #NPC22 pic.twitter.com/fz3hg1Wdd1
— Dhawal (@Dhawal2901) May 1, 2022
Public Space
Planners explored the COVID-modified streets that created expanded public spaces and plazas for more opportunities for gathering as a community.
5th Ave is pretty cool. Since the start of the pandemic, restaurants were able to build outdoor seating areas. Several blocks are closed off to traffic for portions of the week. #npc22 pic.twitter.com/JjWCfxE6B3
— Wayne Shuler (@WayneShuler) May 1, 2022
Walking down the middle of a downtown street in the 8th largest city in the country. Don’t mind if I do. #NPC22. pic.twitter.com/AgEeAzDJNo
— James Brasuell 🚌 🚇 (@CasualBrasuell) May 1, 2022
Mobile Workshops
The on-the-go education sessions took attendees around the region as one more opportunity to learn from the NPC22 host city and region.
Tired out from #NPC22 #SanDiego 3-hour coach tour but really glad to have been able to see a lot more of San Diego’s diverse planning issues. From spatial relationship with Tijuana to the south, Pacific Coast to north, and diverse communities in between. Thanks to the guides. 👍 pic.twitter.com/kDwJ5P18iq
— Michael Chang (@HiPNetworkUK) May 2, 2022
Barrio Logan neighborhood. #NPC22 pic.twitter.com/aUMIp751Uu
— Brad Wolf (@WolfbawA) April 30, 2022
Convoy District has a LOT of different kinds of Asian restaurants and businesses. We got tasty snacks at one restaurant. https://t.co/PryH4j7WrH pic.twitter.com/Rfi8XqtmUr
— Tanya Stern_Planner (@PlannerStern) April 30, 2022
Drones as first responders? It’s happening already in City of Chula Vista, CA as part of their smart city program. Had a great tour today as part of NPC22. https://t.co/UMyIZUkr2k. #NPC22 pic.twitter.com/ATcQHu0FSW
— Ben Hitchings (@HitchingsBen) May 2, 2022
#thankyou @CityofSanDiego for fabulous site visit & great to see massive #retrofit development 👏 plus y'all gotta love a hard hat ⛑ opportunity 👍 @APA_Planning #NPC22 #planning #planners 🇬🇧🇺🇲🌎🌏🌍 pic.twitter.com/VC1eeGtFdY
— Victoria Hills MRTPI (@VictoriaRTPI) May 1, 2022
Top Image: Attendees head out on a bicycle mobile workshop in San Diego. Photo by Bob Hoffman Photography
About the author
Roberta Rewers is APA's communication manager.