National Community Planning Month 2025

The month of October is National Community Planning Month. Oddly enough, there are no parades during this month that depict bike lanes or mixed-use developments. There are no Walkability 5Ks, or take your planner to lunch days.

However, it is a good time to sit back and contemplate the impact that planning can have on your community. As the American Planning Association’s website states:

“Planners work to improve the well-being of all people living in our communities by taking a comprehensive perspective. This approach leads to safer, resilient, more equitable, and more prosperous communities. We celebrate the role that planning plays in creating great communities in October with National Community Planning Month.“

Learn more about National Community Planning Month at www.planning.org/ncpm.

It is time to dust off your old plans and take another look at them. Set aside some time to read through them again. Don’t just look at the goals or the renderings of what could be. Read it thoroughly to know it inside and out. You’ll have a better appreciation for the plan and will be in a better position to help make it a reality.

Read More on Planning this Month

Rural Resurrection will do our part during National Community Planning Month, providing a series of posts specifically dedicated to planning in October. Typically, I link to other past posts for further reading, but this year I’m going to point out other websites and blogs that are helpful sources of small-town and rural planning.

Small Town and Rural (STaR) Planning Division of APA

This small division of the national American Planning Association is a good source of information about planning-related issues that can have an impact on rural America. In addition to their webpage and Facebook page, they also have a quarterly newsletter.

SaveYour.Town

Becky McCray and Deb Brown have created a broad following due to their extensive knowledge on empowering residents to revitalize their communities through grassroots methods.

JCShepard(DOT)Com

Friend and fellow Nebraska Planner John Shepard has started his own blog. He dives head-first into a variety of small-town and rural issues on a regular basis. He’s driven to help communities develop a strong sense of place, with dynamic economies, thoughtful public policy, and a vibrant culture.

Booked on Planning

Booked on Planning is more of a podcast than a blog, but it is a great starting resource to find additional readings about community planning. Cohosts Stephanie Rouse and Jennifer Hiatt sit down with the authors to discuss their books and how they shape the way we live, work, and move around our cities.

HeidiTown

Heidi started as a Western destinations blogger, but she’s evolved her activities to help rural communities find and accentuate their best attributes. Her “Love Where You Live” message energizes communities to become destinations for others.