Blogs

April 18, 2025

Recognizing APA Presidential Award Recipients

Honoring the recipients of the 2024 APA President Awards.

April 2, 2025

NPC25 — The Sights and Sounds

Over 4,300 people made their way to Denver for the American Planning Association’s (APA) 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC25).

February 21, 2025

Discover Inspiration at APA’s National Planning Conference

News Release: APA's National Planning Conference heads to Denver providing the latest in planning trends and innovations.

February 8, 2025

In Memoriam: Donald Shoup, FAICP

In Memoriam: Professor, author, and leader of rethinking parking policies, Donald Shoup, FAICP, has passed.

January 29, 2025

The 2025 Trend Report for Planners Helps Navigate Change and Prepare for an Uncertain Future

Now available from APA, the 2025 Trend Report for Planners. Get insights into more than 100 trends that could have big impacts on communities.

January 22, 2025

Sue Schwartz, FAICP, Begins Tenure as President of APA

Sue Schwartz started her tenure at APA president on January 1, 2025.

January 22, 2025

Erin N. Perdu, AICP, Begins Term as President of American Institute of Certified Planners

Erin Purdu, AICP, began her tenure as AICP President on January 1, 2025.

APA Leaders Advocate for Planners at World Urban Forum in Egypt (blog featured image)

November 15, 2024

APA Leaders Advocate for Planners at 12th World Urban Forum in Egypt

The American Planning Association joined with the international community November 4-8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, for the World Urban Forum’s (WUF) conference to exchange ideas and learn new ways to uplift and support planners at home and abroad.

November 8, 2024

Planning Together for a Sustainable Future and Sufficient Homes for Our Communities

A joint statement from the Global Planners Network member organizations about the 75th anniversary of World Town Planning Day.

October 25, 2024

APA’s Upcoming International Learning Opportunities

APA’s ongoing international strategy aims to advocate for the planning profession and facilitate learning exchanges with our peers worldwide that will benefit APA members.

October 23, 2024

APA Recognizes 2024 National Planning Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to intergenerational collaboration with young residents, APA is proud to recognize the 2024 National Planning Award recipients.

October 11, 2024

New Rules of Conduct Launch in January

APA’s Welcoming Environment Task Force submitted proposed Rules of Conduct to the Board of Directors that outline a new anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy, and a process for acting on alleged violations of the policy.

June 25, 2024

Planners ‘Plant a Seed’ for Housing Reform

Nearly 100 planners from across the country gathered online in June 2024 for APA’s Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill. Each advocate brought stories of the housing challenges their own communities’ are facing – and how planners are on the ground working to boost housing supply and expand affordability.

Fostering the Future of Planning (blog featured image)

June 17, 2024

Fostering the Future of Planning: Outcomes from the 2024 Student Planning & Design Competition

Summary of the 2024 Student Planning & Design Competition results from NPC24.

June 11, 2024

Get National Recognition for Your Planning Work

Winning a national award can help legitimize important planning work and develop the support and investment needed from stakeholders and key decision-makers to take on the next community-shaping project.

May 15, 2024

Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook Provides Solutions for Addressing Nation’s Housing Supply Crisis

News Release: APA and NLC release the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a roadmap for communities to effectively navigate their housing supply challenges.

May 8, 2024

5 Reasons to Join APA for Planners' Day

This is a unique opportunity to sharpen your advocacy and communication skills, meet one-on-one with members of Congress, and explain why your community needs federal support for housing and zoning reform.

May 7, 2024

Engaging Youth: 2024 Planners' Day of Service

Planners' Day of Service at APA's 2024 National Planning Conference, focused on youth engagement in planning, including the launch of the Girl Scouts of America "city planning" patch.

April 23, 2024

APA Welcoming Environment Work Continues

APA is committed to establishing, maintaining, and protecting a welcoming environment. After launching the APA Welcoming Environment Initiative and a Code of Conduct for NPC in 2023, our work continues in 2024. Expect more guidance and resources later this year.

April 17, 2024

As Seen at NPC24

Catch up on all that happened at NPC24 in Minneapolis, April 13-16, 2024.

April 17, 2024

Connecting at NPC24

A variety of opportunities allowed NPC24 attendees to connect during the conference.

February 29, 2024

D7 Design Retreat in Kansas City

The top seven design organizations will convene in Kansas City, Missouri, for the D7 Retreat to discuss industry challenges.

February 7, 2024

Empowering Students: Student Representatives Council 2024 Leadership Goals

Bianca Mers, the new chair of the Student Representatives Council outlines three goals for 2024 focused on empowering leaders, amplifying voices, and fostering career development in planning.

November 15, 2023

Student-Led University Course Challenges Conventional Planning Processes

Equity in Practice: Learn how students created a new course at the University of Michigan to DO WHAT.

November 14, 2023

Yan Song, PhD, Selected as Next Editor of Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA)

News Release: Yan Song, PhD, selected as new editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association.

November 7, 2023

States Take Varied Approaches to Resilience Governance

APA News: New research analysis from APA identifies the varied approaches states are taking for resilience governance.

November 3, 2023

Planning Action for a Just Transformation to a Net-Zero Climate Resilient World

Statement from the Global Planners Network about the need for effective planning to generate sustainable urbanism in advance of the 74th World Town Planning Day on November 8, 2023.

October 25, 2023

APA Recognizes 2023 National Planning Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to intergenerational collaboration with young residents, APA is proud to recognize this year’s award-winning planning efforts.

September 20, 2023

The New Nicollet Redevelopment: Reimaging New Places and Opportunities

The 2024 Student Planning and Design Competition project site location is the New Nicollet Redevelopment, the former Kmart site in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. This project site covers 10 acres of land between the Midtown Greenway bike trail, Lake Street, First Avenue, and Blaisdell Avenue.

July 17, 2023

Planning Priorities Face Cuts in Congress

Federal investments in zoning reform, climate action, and infrastructure are on the line this week as Congress moves to reduce federal spending for the next fiscal year. APA unpacks the disappointing cuts and the legislative pathway forward.

July 13, 2023

Opportunity Unbound Scholarship Recipient Reflects on First NPC

Opportunities Unbound scholarship recipient Leslie Martínez-Román recounts her experience at NPC23.

June 27, 2023

Recognizing APA Presidential Award Recipients

Honoring the recipients of the 2022 APA President Awards.

June 26, 2023

Designing the Future of Planning: Success of the 2023 Student Design Competition

Lessons and key takeaways from the 2023 Student Design Competition.

June 16, 2023

In Memoriam: Dorothy Walker

In Memoriam: Remembering APA's first president.

April 21, 2023

It Takes a Planner: Communicating Your Value to Policymakers

APA is launching “It Takes a Planner”, an effort aimed at building the influence of planners among state and local elected and appointed officials.

April 5, 2023

Let's Talk Planning: Scenes from NPC23

Catch up on all that happened at NPC23 in Philadelphia, April 1-4, 2023.

April 5, 2023

Planners Talking About Philadelphia

Attendees at NPC23 were abuzz on social. Find out what got planners talking while in Philadelphia.

February 1, 2023

Revocation of Credentials For Ethical Misconduct

Recent disciplinary actions taken by the AICP Ethics Committee in January 2023.

January 23, 2023

Partnership to Accelerate & Incentivize Diverse Housing Supply Announced

APA News: APA and NLC partner in national housing campaign to advance and incentivize local approaches to land use, zoning and housing development, and preservation.

January 19, 2023