REGIONAL LINKS

Achieving High Academic Standards with Contextual Learning - Through the Regional Technology Careers Initiative, RPA and the Westchester Education Coalition have established a consortium of schools and businesses to support the implementation of higher academic standards through work-based and community-based learning and the application of new educational technology. One of the first priorities of the consortium is to create staff capacities that will help schools link internships, community-based learning, in-school projects and other types of contextual learning to new academic standards.

Affordable Housing Development Corporation (Jonathan Rose & Company) - strives to make cities, towns and villages more vibrant while preserving the land around them.

American Museum of Natural History--the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation - The variety of life on the planet--its biodiversity--is disappearing. The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation focuses the efforts of the Museum and outside collaborators to generate and communicate scientific information to mitigate threats to biodiversity.

American Planning Association & The American Institute of Certified Planners - are organized to advance the art and science of planning and to foster the activity of planning--physical, economic, and social--at the local, regional, state, and national levels. The objective of the Association is to encourage planning that will contribute to public well-being by developing communities and environments that meet the needs of people and of society more effectively.

Appalachian Trail Conference - responsible since 1925 for coordinating the volunteer-based development, protection, and management of the Appalachian Trail — from Maine to Georgia.

Big Apple Garbage Sentinel - a fortnightly newsletter which seeks to publish news about the city's developing policies and practices, as well as information that helps provide a context for understanding the city's unique problems and opportunities.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition comprises 60 civic and environmental groups and more than 1,000 individual supporters. Since 1989, when it was created as the successor to community efforts to create a self-sustaining regional park on the Downtown Brooklyn Waterfront, it has developed a political and community-based consensus that such a world-class park is both necessary and feasible. As a new local Development Corporation undertakes a master planning process and implementation plan for the Park, BBPC is focusing its efforts on strengthening public and political support.

Catskill Center - a member-supported, not-for-profit regional conservation and advocacy organization serving the six-county Catskill Mountain region of New York State.

Change Communications offers a wide range of Internet services, designed to help housing and community development organizations use the new communications technology to its fullest potential. With experience in community work, journalism, nonprofits, and planning, as well as the Internet, our services can be customized to suit your organization's needs.

The Citizens Committee for New York City - encourages and supports volunteer action that improves the quality of life in New York City's neighborhoods.

Citizens Union is the oldest, largest and most influential good-government organization in New York City. Its mission is to encourage a municipal democracy that values its citizens, that tackles key issues, and that operates fairly, transparently, and economically.

Cityscape Institute - a not-for-profit urban design resource for public space improvement serving city government and the private sector.  In addition to information about the Cityscape's projects and events, the site includes links to other planning and design organizations and an extensive bibliography.

ConneCT - full listing of statewide agencies.

Connecticut's official homepage

Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA)

The Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA), in its 102nd year, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Connecticut's natural resources, including its forests, parks, trails, wildlife and water. It is the oldest such organization in Connecticut, and one of the oldest in the nation.

Environmental Action Coalition (EAC) - strives to enhance the quality of our urban ecosystem by fostering meaningful community-based activities and encouraging effective public- and private-sector initiatives.

Environmental Defense Fund is a not-for-profit environmental advocacy group with four main goals: (1) Stabilizing the Earth's climate, (2) Safeguarding the world's oceans, (3) Protecting human health, and (4) Defending and restoring biodiversity.

The Environmental Simulation Center, based in New York City, is a not-for-profit applied research lab that is committed to furthering place-based planning and design. It designs and adapts information technologies that extend the capabilities of citizens and decision-makers to reach consensus on a community's future. The Center has pioneered the development and use of simulation and visualization in urban planning and design, including 3D GIS and Decision Support Systems, and continues to develop new applications of information technology.

Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Inc. (FCWC) has been dedicated to environmental planning and education since 1965. Encouraging a regional perspective on environmental matters, FCWC acts as a clearing house for information. It is a liaison between citizens and various levels of government, particularly the county legislature. FCWC goals include protecting wetlands and wildlife habitats; safeguarding and expanding the county’s parks; ensuring adherence to environmental regulations; and protecting and enhancing Westchester’s greatest natural resources: the Hudson River, the Long Island Sound and the New York City watershed (utilized by 85% of county residents). It also promotes mass transit and fights automobile dependent sprawl.

Gotham Gazette - newsletter published each weekday, covering New York City news, politics, policy. Published by the Citizens Union Foundation.

General Service Administration's official Governors Island Website

Hudson River Park is under construction. In just a few years, five miles of the riverfront, from Battery Park to 59th Street, will be transformed into a green and blue oasis for all of New York to enjoy, and will offer unparalleled opportunities to experience 550 acres of the shoreline and river from a whole new perspective.

Building on a foundation of regional assets and cooperative efforts, the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth catalyzes and supports new and existing initiatives that strengthen Western New York and the Buffalo-Niagara Region.

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is a private, nonprofit organization, affiliated with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. Headquartered in New York City where it was established in 1906, IPA operates worldwide with a program of research, technical assistance, and training.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy - improving the quality of debate and disseminating knowledge of critical issues in land use and tax policy through professional development courses, research and publications.

LIRR Commuters Campaign - We are a non-profit, 501c public transportation advocacy organization. Specifically we represent commuters and passengers who use the Long Island Railroad - but we also advocate better, more efficient mass transit in general.

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) is a private, non-profit membership organization that aggressively champions excellence in urban design and planning and the preservation of the best of New York's past. The Society believes that the physical city - its light, air, land and open spaces - and its sensible development are critical to New York's continued economic health and social well-being.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, chartered by Congress in 1949, is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. It fights to save historic buildings and the neighborhoods and landscapes they anchor. Through education and advocacy, the National Trust is revitalizing communities across the country and challenges citizens to create sensible plans for the future. It has six regional offices, 20 historic sites, and works with thousands of local community groups nationwide.

The Natural Resources Defense Council uses law, science, and the support of more than 400,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

New Jersey's official homepage

New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association

New Jersey Future is leading New Jersey toward sustainable development and smart growth, as co-creator with the State of New Jersey of the nation's first Sustainable State Project, and as the statewide advocate and watchdog for New Jersey's pioneering Development and Redevelopment Plan.

The offical Homepage for the City of Newark, New Jersey

The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYCEJA) is a city-wide network that links grass roots organizations low-income neighborhoods and communities of color (EJ communities) in their struggle against environmental racism.

New York Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA)

New York New Visions is a coalition of 20 architecture, planning, and design organizations that came together immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. This group, representing over 30,000 individuals, has pooled the collective resources and technical expertise of over 350 professionals and civic group leaders in a pro-bono effort to address the issues surrounding the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan.

New York State's official home page.

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) - the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the 13-county northern New Jersey region.

nycroads.com - The complete guide to New York Area roads, crossings and exits. (not affiliated with New York State Department of Transportation, the New York City Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority, or any other government agency)

Planning & Architecture Internet Resource Center - contains links to Web sites that contains information that is useful, interesting, and relevant to the planning, urbanism, architecture, landscape architecture, and other related professions.

The Planning Commissioners Journal's Planners Web provides a wide variety of resources for planning commissions and zoning boards, and for citizen and professional planners, on city and regional planning, zoning, land use, and environmental issues. The Planners Web includes special resource pages dealing with takings and property rights, subdivision design, and the impacts information technology will be having on our cities and towns.

The Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development (PICCED) - has been in service to the community to create a partnership between Pratt Institute's Department of City and Regional Planning and local organizations that were struggling to address issues of urban deterioration and poverty. PICCED grew out of the Institute's belief that an integral part of its mission as an urban university was to provide community-based organizations in low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City with access to the technical resources of its faculty, staff, and students.

Resource Renewal Institute (RRI) - a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that supports innovative environmental management strategies in the United States and worldwide. RRI's mission is to catalyze the development and implementation of green plans.

Riverkeeper - an environmental 'neighborhood watch' program, a citizen's patrol to protect the nation's waters so that there are always plenty of fish and the water is clean and safe for everyone who lives around it.

Scenic Hudson is a 35-year old non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the ecosystem,unique landscapes and historic fabrics of New York's Hudson Valley.

The $mart Growth Network is a growing coalition of developers, planners, government officials, lending institutions, community development organizations, architects, environmentalists and community activists all stakeholders in the development process. By building coalitions and partnerships, developing information and analytical tools and programs and establishing dialogues among development stakeholders, the Smart Growth Network hopes to encourage more environmentally and fiscally responsible land use, growth and development. This section contains a current list of our partner organizations.

The Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse - mission is to make the tools, techniques, and strategies developed to manage growth, accessible to citizens, grassroots organizations, environmentalists, public officials, planners, architects, the media and business leaders. At the Clearinghouse we identify, collect, compile, and disseminate information on the best land use practices, for those listed above.

The Straphangers Campaign - advocates for safe, comfortable, reliable and affordable subways and buses. The Straphangers Campaign is a project of NYPIRG, the New York Public Interest Research Group, Inc.

The Taub Urban Research Center explores issues and challenges affecting cities and metropolitan regions. The Center issues reports and conducts forums that include participants from government, businessm nonprofit organizations, and the academic community.  The Center's website activities include: the electronic publication of New York Affairs, analysis of population and employment trends, announcements about conferences and symposia, plus an on-line forum to explore major issues and problems facing cities around the world.

Transportation Alternatives - a member-supported NYC-area non-profit citizens’ group working for better bicycling, walking and public transit, and fewer cars. We want safer, calmer neighborhood streets and car-free parks.

Tri-State Transportation Campaign Home Page - The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is an alliance of public interest, transit advocacy, planning and environmental organizations promoting transportation policy reform in the metropolitan region that spans the 32 counties from Hartford to Trenton and from Poughkeepsie to Montauk.

Trust for Public Land - Founded in 1972, the Trust for Public Land is the only national nonprofit working exclusively to protect land for human enjoyment and well-being. TPL helps conserve land for recreation and spiritual nourishment and to improve the health and quality of life of American communities.

Links to other regions
1,000 Friends of Florida's mission is to protect and improve Florida's quality of life byadvocating responsible planning for the state's population growth. Our planners, attorneys and community activists work to protect natural areas, fight urban sprawl, promote sensible development patterns, and provide affordable housing. Above all, we strive to give citizens the tools to keep Florida's communities liveable.

1,000 Friends of Iowa's mission is to educate the citizens of our state about the long-term benefits of halting urban sprawl, conserving and protecting our agricultural and natural resources, and revitalizing our urban neighborhoods while providing for the sustainable growth of our cities and rural communities.

1,000 Friends of Maryland is a coalition of business and development companies, architectural and historical preservation organizations, community and environmental groups. Our mission is twofold: to preserve what is best about Maryland and to encourage sensible growth.

1,000 Friends of Minnesota envisions a sustainable landscape where finite natural resources are protected, cities are vital and livable, and all citizens have access to clean air, water and soil, as well as food, jobs and housing. This landscape is made up of compact, diverse, pedestrian-oriented cities and healthy, productive farms and forest. The cities do not sprawl into the countryside but are concentrated around existing infrastructure and offer transportation alternatives to the automobile. Planning and zoning is done on the local level and under the umbrella of a statewide policy framework with common goals that have been developed by the people of Minnesota.

1,000 Friends of Oregon is a nonprofit citizens group founded in 1975. Their mission is to protect Oregon's quality of life through the conservation of farm and forest lands, protection of natural and historic resources, and the promotion of livable communities.

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania - an alliance of organizations and individuals committed to promoting land use policies and actions that will enable Pennsylvania to strengthen its diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities and reduce sprawl. 10,000 Friends seeks growth and development that will support the economic and social viability of Pennsylvania’s cities and towns, conserve fiscal resources, and protect our state’s exceptional natural landscapes, environmental quality, and heritage resources.

California Futures Network (CFN) is a statewide coalition of organizations representing urban, environmental, housing, social justice, local and tribal governments, labor, business, and agricultural interests throughout California. CFN was created in 1997 to educate and organize at the state, regional, and local levels to achieve land use policies that are fiscally, socially, and environmentally sound.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a catalyst for bold and creative solutions to Bay problems. Staff members set the agenda, serve as watchdogs, and speak out on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay to business, government, and the public

The Colorado Public Interest Research Group has been an advocate for the public interest, taking on formidable opponents and often winning against great odds. Combining the expertise of a professional staff with the energy of their volunteers, they work for a clean and healthy environment, preservation of natural resources, strong protections for consumers, and a government accountable to the people.

EcoCity Cleveland is a Northeast Ohio nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization with sixteen years of experience in environmental reporting and planning. Their goals are to: stimulate ecological thinking about Northeast Ohio and the Cuyahoga Bioregion; nurture an EcoCity Network among local groups working on urban and environmental issues; and promote sustainable ways to meet basic human needs for food, shelter, productive work and stable communities.

Greenbelt Alliance is the leading land conservation organization in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1958, our mission is to protect the 3.8 million acre Greenbelt of farmlands, watersheds, parks and other productive open space through citizen action, research and education, and advocacy.

The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of business and civic leaders committed to serving the public interest through the promotion and implementation of sensible planning and development policies necessary for a world-class Chicago region. MPC conducts policy analysis, outreach and advocacy in partnership with public officials and community leaders to improve equity of opportunity and quality of life throughout metropolitan Chicago.

The Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association - a group of citizens committed to providing education, training, and assistance for the betterment of planning in your community.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is a catalyst for the protection and improvement of Pennsylvania's environment. The Council: Brings together the knowledge and viewpoints of civic and environmental groups, business, government and academia to develop common understanding on environmental, energy and land use issues; Builds coalitions and partnerships to act on these issues; Advocates policies, laws, and regulations that foster sound environmental practices and responsible management of our natural resources; Helps resolve conflicts among different interests; Undertakes education and action projects; Provides resources and assistance to diverse communities and the general public.

Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program is charged with preparing and maintaining plans for the physical, economic, and social development of the state; encouraging their implementation; and coordinating the actions of state, local and federal agencies and private individuals within the framework of the state's development goals and policies. The basic charge is established by Sections 42-11-10 and 12 of the General Laws.

Vermont Forum on Sprawl - An organization dedicated to addressing the issue of “sprawl”-- the all-too-familiar pattern of strip development and spread-out low density development in the countryside that leads to a gradual decline in community life and values, and the erosion of the economic base in cities and villages. VFS believes in growth that is consistent with Vermont values of environmental quality, rural working landscape and community
values of sharing and equity.

Vermont Natural Resources Council - Vermont's leading statewide environmental organization dedicated to protecting our natural resources and environment through research, education, and advocacy.

Would your organization like to set up a reciprocal link with our webpage? Send an email with your URL address and a brief description of your organization to karen@rpa.org.   

rev. 12/3/01