INDIANAPOLIS People’s Planning Academy

The People’s Planning Academy is a national award-winning community engagement program that launched in 2017. Like Philadelphia, the City of Indianapolis established their People’s Planning Academy while the department was undergoing its comprehensive plan update. The program was intentionally designed to recruit underrepresented participants in the planning process.

There are many lessons that Prince George’s County could borrow from the People’s Planning Academy. Like Prince George’s County, the government structure is a combined city and county government covering a geography of 400 square miles. Prior to 2017, there were more than 135 inconsistent neighborhood land-use plans. The city’s comprehensive plan update was a complete overhaul to develop one guiding land-use plan document.

Each year, the People’s Planning Academy themes align with contemporary planning issues that the Department is facing. In 2020, the program focused on transportation equity as the city was updating its transportation plan; in 2021, the program focused on health outcomes to align with public discussions about COVID-19. Weekly session topics include Planning & Zoning 101; Transportation History, Walkable Neighborhoods, Transit-Oriented Development, Development 101, Moving Forward and Taking Action (regulatory process), A How-To of Using Pattern Books, and a History of Indianapolis.

The People’s Planning Academy is a great example of leveraging foundation support and grant resources to offset programmatic and staff costs. Indianapolis Division of Planning used an AmeriCorps VISTA staff member to conduct research on underrepresented groups in Indianapolis Planning. The planning department then identified libraries and community centers in these areas, in addition to communities along the Traffic Transit Corridor. Based on this research, the team developed an equitable engagement network that serves some of the most politically vulnerable individuals in the community. Information is shared to the Equitable Engagement Network prior to being released to public. Representative from Indianapolis Planning Agency encouraged jurisdictions interested in developing a similar program to root the program design and coursework into the local history of the community. They also recommend using gamification, education through games, to help reinforce concepts.