National Planning Conference Comes to Atlanta

The American Planning Association (APA) held its 2014 National Planning Conference in Atlanta from April 26-30, bringing planners and planning-enthusiasts from all over the nation to our beloved city. APA selects conference locations each year that “represent the gold standard in sense of place, cultural and historical interest, and a vision for tomorrow,” and Atlanta is not short on culture, history, or vision.

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The Atlanta BeltLine booth at the APA National Planning Conference.

The Atlanta BeltLine featured prominently in the conference’s itinerary, including bus tours, sessions, and mobile workshops. Attendees got a chance to learn about how the 22-mile loop of transit, trails, and greenspace is being planned and executed by visiting sessions or joining walking tours guided by presenters. Session topics ranged from neighborhood issues, historic preservation, and place-making, to infrastructure planning and funding and, of course, transit. Many conference attendees also made it a point to visit the Atlanta BeltLine without a guided tour, jogging through one of the open parks or visiting a restaurant on one of the trails. As folks came up to the booth and asked us how they could see and enjoy the Atlanta BeltLine while visiting the city, we even had the opportunity to help with a little trip-planning!

Conference attendees took a tour of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail.
Conference attendees took a tour of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail.
Bike tour in front of the Lofts at Reynoldstown Crossing.
Bike tour in front of the Lofts at Reynoldstown Crossing.

For a full recap of the conference, visit blogs.planning.org/conference

 

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