October 29th: 2025 APAPASE Annual Event, Planning for America250

September 15, 2025 / / Comments Off on October 29th: 2025 APAPASE Annual Event, Planning for America250
Please join us for APAPASE’s 2025 Annual Event, Planning for America250! Tickets are available here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/apapa-se/planning-for-america-250-2025-apapase-annual-event
The event will take place Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 5:30 – 8 PM at DesignPhiladelphia, 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia.
The theme of this year’s annual event is Planning for America250! Come learn how the region is preparing for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (signed just a few blocks away), both in the city and the suburbs. We intend to offer CM credits (stay tuned!).
Confirmed speakers include:
  • Kathryn Ott Lovell, President & CEO, Philadelphia Visitor Center & PHL250
  • Michelle Kichline Esq. – Former Chester County Commissioner (2015-2024) and Chair, Chester County 250 Commission Board
  • MaryAnn Tierney – Chief Officer, Control Center, SEPTA (manages special events planning and operations)
  • Matthew J. Edmond, AICP, Moderator – Executive Director, Chester County Planning Commission
This is a great opportunity to meet planners, students, and related professionals in the Southeast Section. Admission includes drinks and appetizers.
DesignPhiladelphia is located two blocks north of Market Street, between N. 12th and N. 13th Streets, with easy access to highways and transit.
Please contact the Events Committee Co-Chairs if you have any questions: Danielle A. Baer, AICP at dabaer@urbanengineers.com or Lorianne DeFalco, AICP at ldefalco@akrf.com.
We want to send a warm thank you to our gracious Sponsors for helping us host this valuable event.

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Event Picture

Category: Upcoming Events /

APA PA Southeast Section’s New LinkedIn Page

September 14, 2025 / / Comments Off on APA PA Southeast Section’s New LinkedIn Page
We are excited to introduce you to the APA PA Southeast Section’s new LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-pa-se!
We created this page to increase our visibility and extend our reach out to students, planning professionals, and interested citizens in and around Philadelphia. Now you can follow our page, share our posts with your networks, and tag us at Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association – Southeast Section.
This page does not replace our APA-PA Southeast Section group on LinkedIn, which is still a great way to share information with the group. We look forward to connecting with you!
Category: General, Social /

Recruiting for the 2026 PA Infrastructure Report Card

August 20, 2025 / / Comments Off on Recruiting for the 2026 PA Infrastructure Report Card

The PA Infrastructure Report Card Committee is recruiting ASCE members from across Pennsylvania to join the 2026 effort. Infrastructure Report Cards are our opportunity to communicate our state’s infrastructure needs and priorities to lawmakers and members of the public. Our last PA Report Card was released in 2022 and covered fifteen categories of infrastructure.

We anticipate holding our kickoff in October 2025 and publishing in November 2026. Currently, we are recruiting for the following categories:

  • Aviation
  • Bridges
  • Broadband
  • Dams
  • Drinking Water
  • Energy
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Inland Waterways
  • Levees
  • Public Parks
  • Ports
  • Rail
  • Roads
  • Schools
  • Solid Waste
  • Stormwater
  • Transit
  • Wastewater

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the interest form linked HERE. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Justin Komp, EIT (jkomp@langan.com) – 2026 PA Report Card Co-Chair

Paul Ackerman, Ph.D., P.E. (packerman@ycp.edu) – 2026 PA Report Card Co-Chair

Category: General /

Oct. 29 – Save the Date – Section Annual Event

August 14, 2025 / / Comments Off on Oct. 29 – Save the Date – Section Annual Event
Please Save the Date for our Annual Event coming up on October 29th, 5:30-8PM at DesignPhiladelphia, 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107! This is a great opportunity to meet planners, students, and related professionals in the Southeast Section. Admission

includes drinks and appetizers. Stay tuned for information on programming and how to purchase tickets. We hope to make this year’s event as memorable as last year’s!

Category: Upcoming Events /

Sept. 20: Levittown Bus Tour –  Save the Date – Postponed

June 9, 2025 / / Comments Off on Sept. 20: Levittown Bus Tour –  Save the Date – Postponed
Thank you to those who expressed interest in the Levittown Bus Tour. The tour is being postponed until Spring, but please stay tuned for other learning opportunities this Fall. 

Levittown, PA celebrated its 70th anniversary recently and this bus tour provides an overview of its history, warts, and all. Levittown (in all 3 locations) is the prototypical post-World War II American suburb and reflects America in many ways – in its design, discrimination and hostility. Our tour will take us through several of the neighborhoods, including seeing some original homes and some renovated homes (including a TV series makeover house), we will see both the forward-looking designs that Levittown pioneered and its legacy today after 7 decades. We will also highlight how systemic discrimination and racism of federal and local policies and laws played a role in Levittown, and the little-remembered riots after the first Black family moved in.

A model for modern suburbia, a cautionary tale of racism and crowd violence, Levittown remains a living and evolving example of the American suburban landscape. The bus will make stops to see the nearby Delaware Canal, for lunch, and some infrastructure and historic sites, which includes the original mansion.

Interested individuals are strongly encouraged to contact the APAPASE Events Committee Co-Chairs at ldefalco@akrf.com or dabaer@urbanengineers.com to express their interest and reserve a spot by Friday, June 27th. The cost of the tour is anticipated to be approximately $25 per person. The tour leaves from Levittown SEPTA station at 10 AM on 20th and is anticipated to last approximately 5 hours.

Stay tuned for how to purchase tickets. 

Category: Upcoming Events /

June 18th: Pride Happy Hour

June 5, 2025 / / Comments Off on June 18th: Pride Happy Hour

4th Annual Pride in the Built Environment Happy Hour

Register Here

Writer’s Block Rehab
Wednesday, June 18th
6–9 pm
Free & 21+

Join us on Wednesday, June 18th at 6:00p at Writer’s Block Rehab for our fourth annual Pride happy hour, an event for LGBTQ+ landscape architects, architects, planners, interior designers, and allied professionals in the Philadelphia region.

Come raise a glass with colleagues, friends, and peers as we celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community within the design industry. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to network, unwind, and show your pride in a fun and inclusive environment.

Let’s come together to toast to creativity, inclusivity, and the power of design to shape a more equitable world.

The event is free and open to LGBTQ+ individuals and allies that work in the built environment (bring your friends and colleagues)! Attendees will receive a free drink ticket. The event is 21+ and is sponsored by OLIN, WRT, ASLA PA-DE, AIA Philadelphia, ASID Pennsylvania East, and APA PA Southeast.

For any questions, please reach out to Max at mdickson@theolinstudio.com

Category: Upcoming Events /

July 10: Section Summer Happy Hour

May 29, 2025 / / Comments Off on July 10: Section Summer Happy Hour
Please join us at Independence Beer Garden (IBG) on July 10th from 5pm-7:30pm for our Summer Happy Hour (cash bar)/Section Council Meeting (weather permitting)!
IBG is located at 100 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106 at S. 6th and Market Streets one block west of the MFL 5th Street/Independence Hall station.
This is a great opportunity for planning students and professionals to learn about our Council, the work that we do, and how you can get involved. We also want to hear from you about planning topics and issues that are important to you, or that you’d like to learn more about, including ideas for the theme for our Annual Event, which will take place this Fall (more details to follow).
The meeting will kick off with a toast to the late Terry Robinson, to honor his service as one of our Citizen Planner representatives. Although he was an actuary by trade, he was willing and eager to join in the activities of APA PA and gain a new perspective on the Philadelphia region. He was an enthusiastic tour guide for the orientation tours at the 2023 NPC and he loved attending section social events and contributing his excellent amateur photographer skills. Terry made friends wherever he went, and we hope that you will join us at this event in his memory.
If you have any questions, please contact the APAPASE Events Committee Co-Chairs at ldefalco@akrf.com or dabaer@urbanengineers.com
Category: Upcoming Events /

June 21: Transportation Camp PHL

May 22, 2025 / / Comments Off on June 21: Transportation Camp PHL

The TCPHL24 team is pleased to be hosting our fourth-annual Summer Gathering event on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

Initially formed as an extension of our 2021 virtual conference to offer a safe, outdoor in-person experience, the event was such a blast, we’ve been keeping it going as a standalone event… even as we’ve returned to an in-person conference!

As with years past, the event will feature a day of urban exploration with fellow TransportationCamp participants, concluding with a happy hour in the afternoon. What’s it like? Check out photos from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The event is open to recent and former attendees of TransportationCamp PHL, other TransportationCamp conferences, APTAtech attendees & affiliates, members of YPT chapters from Philadelphia and beyond, and their friends and family. (Yes, we’re family-friendly, and have had some families join!)

Are you a local or looking to make a long weekend out of it? Our event is designed to help you make the most out of your time in the Philadelphia region… particularly if you’re coming to Philadelphia for the very first time.

We’re ecstatic to be seeing you in-person and hopefully connect with others throughout the region and beyond. Let the summer fun commence!

Tickets are complimentary; there is no charge to participate, although food, transportation, and admission to any activities (e.g. museums, events, sports) are not included.

Registration

Category: Upcoming Events /

June 4th: Webinar Wednesday – Complete Streets, Connected Community: Integrating Land Use and Mobility

May 22, 2025 / / Comments Off on June 4th: Webinar Wednesday – Complete Streets, Connected Community: Integrating Land Use and Mobility

June 4 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Complete Streets, Connected Community: Integrating Land Use and Mobility 

In this session, we will explore the evolving concept of “Complete Streets”—a planning and design approach that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and mobility for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation. While traditionally associated with roadway design, Complete Streets are far more than just traffic lanes and sidewalks. This session will delve into the broader urban design context, examining how streets interact with adjacent land uses and how the design of building frontages—especially first floors—can significantly influence the character and functionality of public spaces.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful integration of land use planning and architectural design can transform streets into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community assets. We will discuss how elements such as active ground-floor uses, transparent façades, and pedestrian-oriented amenities contribute to a lively streetscape that encourages walking, supports local businesses, and enhances public safety.

The session will also examine the role of modern urban infrastructure—such as protected bike lanes, curbside pickup zones for services like Uber Eats, and green stormwater features—in creating dynamic, adaptable streets that serve a wide range of users and needs. Through case studies and interactive discussion, we will highlight best practices and innovative strategies for aligning street design with broader community goals.

By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with practical insights and design principles to advocate for and implement Complete Streets that not only move people efficiently but also enrich the social, economic, and environmental fabric of urban life.

CM credit is pending approval. You must attend the webinar live in order to earn CM credit.

Speaker(s):
Peter Quintanilla; Justin Miller; and Kirsten Compitello

**The Pennsylvania Chapter is not responsible for the materials or opinions of the speaker(s) you will hear**

Deadline to register is June 3

If you’re interested in sponsoring a Webinar Wednesday session or have a session for Webinar Wednesday please contact us. Send your request to admin@planningpa.org.

Please note: You will receive a reminder email a few days before the webinar with zoom information (please check your spam/junk folders). This email will be sent to the email address you used to register for the event.

Register Now

Category: General /

Deadline extended!

May 15, 2025 / / Comments Off on Deadline extended!

Extended deadline to submit nominations for APAPASE 2025-2026 Council!  

Submit your nomination by June 2nd!

If you’re interested in promoting the city and regional planning profession and interested in meeting other planners in the southeast Pennsylvania area, consider joining the American Planning Association Pennsylvania Chapter Southeast (APAPASE) Section Council!

APAPASE is committed to promoting the collaboration and advancement of the city and regional planning profession(s) in the Philadelphia region.

If you are interested in serving either in an Officer or Council member position:

  • Review the Chapter Bylawsfor descriptions of the Officer and Council member duties and responsibilities.
  • Time commitment is generally 1-3 hours/month, including a 1-hour meeting every other month and an annual event.
  • New members welcome!  No previous experience required.
  • American Institute of City Planners (AICP) certification not required.
  • Speak with current Officers or Council members regarding any questions at: elections@apapase.org

APAPASE is accepting nominations for Section Council candidates now!

Provide this information through either option below:

  1.  emailingelections@apapase.org
  2.  completing this Google Form

You’ll need to provide your:

  • Name
  • Brief Professional Biography (max 100 words)
  • Brief Position Statement – what interests you in serving, suggested ideas and initiatives, etc. (max 200 words)
  • APA ID #
  • Photo (optional)

The official elections ballot will be distributed online this fall.

Please visit the APAPA-Southeast Section website at www.apapase.org for more information about the section.

Category: General /
« Older Entries  
Wordpress Theme by ThemeZee