Through APA's professional institute, the American Institute for Certified Planners (AICP), organizes volunteer planning teams tailored specifically to a community's needs. Members serve on Community Planning Assistance Teams (CPAT) to offer their time and expertise to people and places where additional resources are needed. The CPAT program is supported by volunteer professionals, community contributions, and grant funding.
APA is seeking team members to help revitalize a riverfront park in Saginaw, MI as part of a Community Planning Assistance Team project, with the goal of increasing opportunities for outdoor activities and encouraging healthy lifestyles. If you have expertise in waterfront economic/market analysis, landscape architecture/urban design, capacity building, or health and demographics, please email cpat@planning.org.
Maybe your community is ready for assistance?! CPATs offer a tremendous amount of work and expertise, but projects must be focused enough to accomplish the objectives. The timing must also be right. Is the community ready to address the issues or goals of the project? How will a CPAT build on any previous efforts? What do you intend to change as a result of a CPAT project? Visit planning.org to review a community checklist or proposal form.