Blogs

February 24, 2025

Building Housing and a Cultural Connection in Sacramento

Equity in Practice: The Wong Center in Sacramento, California, offers a roadmap for addressing housing inequities while promoting inclusion and honoring cultural heritage.

February 7, 2025

Transforming Kansas City’s Historic 18th and Vine District

Equity in Practice: Kansas City invests in 18th and Vine District to overcome past harms and preserve its cultural heritage.

Blog-Header-Toolfor-Planning-With-Libraries

February 6, 2025

How Libraries Became Community Resilience Hubs

Uncovering JAPA: Learn how local public libraries act as resilience hubs in the face of economic stressors and extreme weather events — and how planners can support their role in building community resilience.

July 25, 2024

A New Tool for Infill Policy

Uncovering JAPA: Learn how states are enhancing infill development to lower housing costs by using statistical models to support state agencies prioritize and monitor local zoning regulations.

Gravestones on a hilltop cemetery, overlooking a small town.

June 14, 2024

Is Your Zoning Ready for Greener Death Care?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How does your zoning code treat water-based cremation, human composting, and conservation cemeteries?

May 28, 2024

Asian Night Markets Spotlight Heritage and Culture

Night markets provide an opportunity to bolster local economies and a way to celebrate Asian heritage.

February 9, 2024

Can Floating Homes Help Us Dodge Climate Hazards?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Are floating homes part of the solution to rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storms?

January 17, 2024

Reconnecting a City to its Cherokee Culture Through Planning

How an architecture firm connected with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to craft a downtown master plan in Cherokee, North Carolina.

October 6, 2023

Mural Festival Advances Creative Placemaking

Uncovering JAPA: Explore a successful model of creative placemaking using murals to engage the community from Springfield, Massachusetts.

August 28, 2023

Using Public Space to Expand Storytelling on the National Mall

A new temporary exhibit on the National Mall aims to balance protecting historic spaces while increasing opportunities for more stories to be shared.

July 10, 2023

Small Churches Equal Big Opportunity

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Does your zoning allow new housing on faith-based land?

February 16, 2023

It's Perilous to Ignore “Gentle” Zoning Reforms

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could subtle zoning changes make a big difference in your community?

December 19, 2022

Discovering the "heART" of Planning

A reflection of the Chicano experience of understanding planning through art.

May 2, 2022

Infill Development Supports Community Connectivity

This blog post provides an overview of infill development as a planning approach to increase physical activity in small and rural communities through everyday destinations. It is part of the Everyday Destinations series.

May 2, 2022

Siting Community Facilities to Increase Destination Accessibility

This blog post provides an overview of siting community facilities as a planning approach to increase physical activity in small and rural communities through everyday destinations. It is part of the Everyday Destinations series.

April 22, 2022

The Art and Planning of Creating APA's Newest Division

The evolution of creating APA's 23rd division - Arts and Planning.

January 27, 2022

Does Cultural Planning Deliver on Equity and Inclusion?

Uncovering JAPA: While planners have long valued diversity, equity, and inclusion, Municipal cultural plans too often treat diversity, equity, and inclusion superficially.

November 12, 2021

Is Campus Zoning Due for a Shake-Up?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Cities, towns, and counties often take a light touch when it comes to zoning for major educational and health-care campuses. But do demographic and technological changes mean it's time to rethink the status quo?

July 30, 2020

A Guide to Choosing the Best Meeting Venues

Uncovering JAPA: Where should you have your meeting to engage the community? The Venue Creation Tool can help you decide.

June 29, 2020

Strengthening a Sense of Community Through Arts and Culture

APA’s Arts and Planning Interest Group is working to establish a more formal partnership between planners and artists with the help of Sue Mobley, a new visiting fellow.

April 6, 2018

Green Schoolyards for Healthy Communities

What if every schoolyard was a green schoolyard? Multifunctional schoolyards can ensure kids' healthy mental, physical, cognitive, and social development.