Neighborhood Planning Academies in the United States

As public calls for equitable development renew, there is a simultaneous need for local governments to be more transparent about opportunities for stakeholder input. Community engagement is a critical component of building equity and inclusion. One strategy, the Community Planning Academy, is citied as an evidenced-based best practice for increasing community capacity and civic participation. Community Planning Academies, often referred to as Neighborhood Planning Academies or Citizen Planning Academies, are adult civic education courses that provide context to the structure and processes of local government.

Community Planning Academies are series of workshops designed to help residents understand the major components of local government functions and the role and responsibilities of planning agencies in guiding development alongside community stakeholders. These programs serve as an opportunity to inform residents on local land use laws; educate residents on contemporary planning issues that affect their communities; and build capacity among residents. Most importantly, the Community Planning Academy serves as an opportunity to restore public trust and build meaningful relationships between residents and government officials. Generally, the program explains and reviews the land development process and conflicts that occur when developing new communities. Representatives from five jurisdictions—City of Baltimore, Maryland; Indianapolis, Indiana; Howard County, Maryland; Durham, North Carolina; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were interviewed about the administrative and programmatic elements of their respective community planning academies.