Publication

Intergenerational Community Planning

This report lays out the many potential avenues that exist for planners to bring a focused and intentional intergenerational lens to local planning practices.

The American Planning Association (APA) published a report on “Intergenerational Community Planning” authored by Generations United Senior Fellow Irv Katz and Generations United friend and Penn State professor Matt Kaplan, Ph.D.

This comprehensive report follows related APA reports on multigenerational planning and planning for all ages. It offers guidance in implementing the elements of an intergenerational community planning process, including visioning, public engagement, and data collection and analysis. It describes a range of intergenerational strategies and solutions that encompasses programs, public spaces and facilities, and human services. And it points planners to intergenerational building blocks of children/youth- and older adult-focused initiatives for collaboration and coalition building.

The document makes the case that the well-being of children, youth, and older adults–and how they relate with one another–should be integrated into regular city planning processes, such as the comprehensive planning that most cities and towns undertake.  It also shares the steps on how to make that happen.

“Intergenerational Community Planning” is available for free to members of the American Planning Association and $25 for non-members.