APA NPC25 – Denver

Each year, my excitement for the upcoming APA National Planning Conference (NPC25) starts to build in January. That’s when registration opens, and I start planning for my time at the conference. By March, I’ve already picked…and re-picked all of the sessions I want to attend. I’ve also gawked at hundreds of photos on Google Maps of the local eateries I want to try, trying not to drool too much over what they are serving.

Although I’ve been to Denver a few times, it’s mainly been a stop along the way to another destination. But now it is time to immerse myself in what downtown Denver has to offer. On top of the retail destinations like Larimer Square and an art scene highlighted by the Denver Art Museum, there’s a big blue bear!

Apparently, Denver is the 4th Hottest Food City in America. There are many unique foods to check out, from Bison Steak to Craft Beer Ice Cream and Green Chili. But the Rocky Mountain Oysters may not be on my personal foodie checklist.

Then there’s Coors Field. Known to be a hitter’s paradise, the design of the ballpark itself is quite well done. Unfortunately, the conference ends a few days before opening day. But it’s tempting to stay a little longer to add “Coors Canaveral” to the ballpark bucket list and watch some baseballs get launched into the outfield seats.

NPC25 is a Two-Headed Monster of Learning

This year’s conference continues APA’s recent trend of making it a hybrid event. For those who cannot attend in person, the American Planning Association also offers online sessions a few weeks after the in-person event.

There are a few that have piqued my interest, though they might not be based on rural communities, they may have aspects that could be helpful to us on the rural side:

• Bouncing Back and Building Better: Downtowns Post-Crisis
• Planning for the People: New Age Comprehensive Planning
• Building Readiness and Resilience in Rural Michigan
• Engage, Empower, Implement: Guide to Community-Based Planning
• Art Districts, Digital Signs, and Economic Prosperity
• Planning With Strategic Foresight
• Successful Trail-Oriented Development: Opportunities and Obstacles
• Innovative Town-Gown Partnership Inspires Downtown Waterville’s Revitalization
• Biking for All: AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit
• Brand It: Driving Community Engagement Through Visual Storytelling
• Small Town Planners Do Housing and Find Success
• The Plan Worked! – River and Corridor Transformations
• Is Anyone Reading My Staff Report?
• Empowering Colorado’s Rural Communities: Statewide Housing Technical Assistance

Much like last year, I’ll do a follow-up post on what went down, what I learned, and what readers might see more about in the coming months due to the conference.

Looking forward to hearing about and discussing some rural planning. But not so much the Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Be sure to follow Rural Resurrection on Twitter, as I’ll likely post a few times during the event.