Category: Community Planning

Strategies for Addressing Common Concerns during Planning Processes

Posted on May 2, 2019 at 12:50 pm. Written by Ben Faust

Planners can often predict the concerns residents will raise during planning processes. “Our schools are already at capacity.” “The traffic would be terrible!” “We must preserve community character.” Sometimes these are justified concerns that require an adjustment to the plan or planning process. Sometimes these concerns are based off false impressions or misinterpretations that can […]

Spark: Weigh in On MetroCommon 2050 Goals

Posted on May 1, 2019 at 5:10 am. Written by Elise Harmon

There are some things your Greater Boston city or town can’t do on its own. Those issues are bigger than any one place, and working on them will take a plan. MetroCommon 2050 is just that: Greater Boston’s next regional plan. Your city or town is already involved. We want you to be in on […]

SWAP Legislative Breakfast: Town Officials & State Reps Discuss Local, Regional Priorities

Posted on April 11, 2019 at 11:57 am. Written by Elise Harmon

The Southwest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP), one of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s eight subregions, gathered at the Thayer Homestead in Medway on Friday, March 29 for its annual legislative breakfast. The breakfast gives local officials and municipal staff the chance to connect with their state representatives over breakfast and coffee. Attendees heard from Representative […]

PHOTOS: MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session in Boston

Posted on March 11, 2019 at 4:26 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

PHOTOS: MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session in Boston Over 100 people voiced their ideas for their future of our region and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh gave a keynote address at a MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session last Wednesday, March 6, at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. Attendees at the exhibit-style open house went station-to-station, learning learning fun […]

Help Plan Greater Boston’s Future

Posted on February 25, 2019 at 4:55 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in Boston is leading a fun and interactive planning process to help the residents of Greater Boston envision what our region should be like long term.

MAPC Launches Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grants

Posted on November 2, 2018 at 3:25 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

If you had the chance to do one small project to prepare your city or town for climate change, what would you do? Last week, MAPC announced the launch of our Accelerating Climate Resiliency Mini Grant Program. Generously funded by the Barr Foundation, the $15,000 to $50,000 grants will advance strategies protecting people, places, and […]

Help Newton Tackle Climate Change

Posted on October 5, 2018 at 10:44 am. Written by Elise Harmon

On-line questionnaire and roundtable discussion to gather local feedback For Immediate Release: Friday, October 5, 2018 NEWTON – Are you interested in helping Newton address climate change? Join staff from the City and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) at an upcoming roundtable discussion on October 23, 2018, designed to gather citizen feedback and begin […]

A Bold and Creative Approach to Public Outreach: City of Newton’s Public Design Week

Posted on September 11, 2018 at 11:03 am. Written by Kit Un

Earlier this summer, MAPC participated in Newton’s first Public Design Week, a one week public visioning process hosted by the City of Newton. The event is part of the City’s “Hello Washington Street!” initiative. “Hello Washington Street” is a thirteen-month process that began in April 2018 and is anticipated to go until May 2019. It […]

Calling All MAPC Fans – Help Us Name Our Next Regional Plan!

Posted on July 20, 2018 at 2:18 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

In October 2018, MAPC will launch a two-year planning process to update Greater Boston’s regional plan. To create the new plan, we will engage thousands of people who live, work, learn, and play in the Metro Boston area and develop action steps and goals to achieve a more equitable and sustainable region. There’s just one […]

Sole of Rockland at Rockland Day!

Posted on June 19, 2018 at 4:25 pm. Written by Kit Un

On Saturday, June 16th, MAPC staff attended Rockland Day to help raise money and support for the town’s creative placemaking project, Sole of Rockland. Sole of Rockland is a fully developed, interactive creative placemaking concept and demonstration that will strengthen and support the REiMAGINE ROCKLAND downtown revitalization effort. MAPC engaged Rockland Day attendees through a […]