City of Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) announced Tuesday it recently received The American Planning Association - Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA)’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Award (for a large community) in recognition of the department’s Now | Next Long-Range plan.

Worcester Now | Next was a two-year long citywide planning process that engaged the Worcester community on important issues relating to land use, housing, economic opportunity, natural and cultural resources, open space and recreation, services and facilities, and transportation and mobility, among others.

“We appreciate the APA-Massachusetts’ recognition of the Worcester Now | Next comprehensive planning effort,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “We know that modernizing zoning for the 21st century and connecting land-use with transportation will have significant benefits and is long overdue. I want to congratulate and thank the EOED for its hard work and continued advocacy of innovative planning efforts.”

The project generated Worcester's first Citywide Long-Range Plan in nearly 37 years. The Worcester Now | Next Plan knits together past, present, and future initiatives covering the entire city, from downtown to its dozens of neighborhoods. The Plan provides a coordinated roadmap for the future development and evolution of the city and establishes a framework for more detailed studies to come.

According to the APA, its Comprehensive Plan Award recognizes a plan, program, or process of unusually high merit such as comprehensive/master plans, housing plans, capital improvement plans, environmental/resource conservation plans, park and recreation plans, transportation plans, redevelopment plans, economic development plans, or rails-to-trails plans.

Pictured from left to right: Zoë Mueller, Associate Principal, Utile Design; Michelle Smith, Assistant Chief Development Officer - Planning & Regulatory Services, City of Worcester.