PEOPLE’S PLANNING ACADEMY RECEIVES NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES PLANNING AWARD

INDIANAPOLIS – The free public education program to help citizens understand the planning process and encourage civic participation will receive the Gold 2019 National Planning Achievement Award for Public Outreach from the American Planning Association (APA). The People’s Planning Academy is one of 20 Achievement Award recipients this year. The People’s Planning Academy is the brain child of the Department of Metropolitan Development’s (DMD) long range planning team. This is DMD’s second National Planning Award in three years and third in nine years.

“The People’s Planning Academy is a powerful example of what is possible when Indianapolis neighborhoods, community members, and City leadership come together to bring the urban planning process to the people,” said Emily Mack, the Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development. “This innovative process engaged our community in a uniquely Indianapolis way and resulted in a collective workshop experience to help neighbors understand the complicated process of city planning. This recognition is a testament to the impact that can be made when city government works hand-in-hand with our community.”

The City of Indianapolis began the People’s Planning Academy to improve the diversity of community voices in plan decision-making, mainly among civically-minded younger residents and underrepresented minorities, many of whom lacked basic knowledge that was instrumental in their participation. The six class sessions explain the fundamentals of planning – what it is and how it is used to accomplish the city’s goals. Participants are trained on the new land use classification system in the city’s comprehensive plan update, and social equity issues are woven throughout with discussions about food access, fair housing and transportation equity. The courses are recorded and televised on local TV to increase the opportunity for participation. Graduates receive a diploma for their participation and have indicated that their understanding of planning goals and initiatives “increased” or “significantly increased” after participating in the academy.

The People’s Planning Academy highlights public education as a critical tool to influence the trajectory of community growth while giving planners a valuable platform to build community support.

“The People’s Planning Academy is nothing short of remarkable,” said Wendy Shabay, AICP, 2019 Awards Jury Chair. “The academy breaks down complex planning information into an easily understood and accessible format, ensuring all citizens in the community have a voice in the planning process.”

Each year, APA recognizes outstanding efforts in planning and planning leadership through its National Planning Excellence and Achievement Awards. The two-tier awards are selected through a juried process. Excellence Award recipients are the highest honor and Achievement Awards recognize accomplishments in areas of specialization within the planning profession. The awards recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues for more than 50 years.

The 2019 National Planning Award recipients will be honored at a special luncheon during APA’s National Planning Conference in San Francisco on April 15, 2019. The recipients will also be featured in the May issue of Planning magazine. For a complete list and summary of all the APA 2019 National Planning Excellence and Achievement Award recipients, visit www.planning.org/awards.

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides vital leadership in creating great communities for all. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the profession of planning, offering better choices for where and how people work and live. The 42,000 APA members work in concert with community residents, civic leaders and business interests to create communities that enrich people’s lives. Through its philanthropic work, APA’s Foundation helps to reduce economic and social barriers to good planning. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Learn more at www.planning.org.

PLAN 2020 RECEIVES NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES PLANNING AWARD

City and GIPC recognized by the American Planning Association for Plan 2020’s unique, decentralized approach to planning for city’s growth.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) are pleased to announce Plan 2020 will receive the Silver 2017 National Planning Achievement Award for a Best Practice from the American Planning Association (APA) for its decentralized approach to planning for the city’s growth.

Plan 2020, a partnership led by GIPC and DMD, defined a new approach to planning in Indianapolis. It acknowledged that Marion County’s full planning capacity reaches well beyond city government and included an unprecedented degree of coordination and collaboration between public, private and philanthropic organizations to realize the community’s collective vision for the future.

“Plan2020 is a powerful representation of what is possible when Indianapolis neighborhoods, community members, and City leadership come together to look ahead and begin planning for the next chapter of our city,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This innovative process engaged our community in a uniquely Indianapolis way and resulted in a collective vision that is relevant and reflective of our residents. I am hopeful this recognition inspires others to redefine their community planning process in a similar way.”

Between March 2014 and December 2015, Plan 2020 reached over 100,000 people using a dozen different community engagement vehicles. The result was a public engagement process deeply committed to guaranteeing Plan 2020’s development and final recommendations remain accessible to anyone who lives, works and visits Marion County. The team returned to the drawing board repeatedly, reaching out to anyone with unique needs and circumstances, including populations who are historically under-represented in planning processes. Through this extensive community outreach, Plan 2020 shows how city planning can work as a decentralized effort, making it more relevant to more people.

Plan 2020 involved the creation or update or seven different plans for all of Indianapolis and Marion County, including the Bicentennial Agenda, the vision and values document that outlines fifteen strategies to make our community healthier, more resilient, more inclusive, and more competitive.

Another component, the Bicentennial Plan, lays out specific actions partners committed to complete by the time our city celebrates its Bicentennial at the end of 2020.  “The extensive community outreach involved in developing this plan resulted in something unique and transformative for Indianapolis. Plan 2020 does not simply outline what should be done to prepare our city for growth, it articulates what will be done. Each and every component outlined in the Plan has a committed partner capable of fulfilling an action step, and numerous partners who are working to realize the larger vision,” said Beth White, Executive Director, GIPC.

In total, 43 community partners, including a variety of government departments and other public and private organizations, are working together on the Bicentennial Plan’s implementation.  These organizations have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with GIPC to carry out the action steps identified in in the plan or directly support implementation of its strategies.

“We are proud to have been recognized on a national level by APA. This was a truly collaborative effort from the City, community and business leaders, as well as residents. I would like to thank the DMD and GIPC teams, as well as the thousands of people who worked tirelessly to give our community a voice. This recognition is a testament to the impact that can be made when city government works hand-in-hand with our community,” said Emily Mack, DMD Director.

APA’s national awards program is a proud tradition established more than 50 years ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues. These efforts help create communities of lasting value throughout the country – and around the world.

The City of Indianapolis and GIPC are one of twelve recipients being honored at a special luncheon during APA’s National Planning Conference in New York City on May 8, 2017. Representing the City of Indianapolis and GIPC will be co-managers of Plan 2020, Brad Beaubien and Brooke Thomas. Beaubien is DMD’s Administrator for Long Range Planning, and Thomas was the Deputy Director of GIPC during the planning process. The recipients will also be featured in the May 2017 issue of Planning magazine.

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About APA

The American Planning Association is an independent, not- for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning — physical, economic and social — so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. The nearly 37,000 members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people’s lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. For more information, visit www.planning.org.