Stay engaged and guide others by reminding them that Now | Next recommendations are grounded in two years of analysis and community process. Pick goals and recommendations you can chip in on that you are aligned with and invested in, reach out to the relevant City department, and use this plan as a guide to push that aspect of the plan forward using the perspective, skills, capacity, and leverage that you have to offer.

The Division of Planning & Regulatory Services aims to provide annual updates on the progress and implementation of the Worcester Now | Next Citywide Long-Range plan to the Planning Board. In addition to annual updates, the plan shall be revisited once all six top actions have been completed, and all remaining recommendations shall be prioritized for implementation. We encourage you to check back to this website for more updates!

The Worcester Now | Next Plan is intended to provide a framework to guide the way that we invest and shape our city in the next 10 years, especially in terms of development and infrastructure.

The Worcester Now | Next Citywide long-range plan is a holistic approach to planning within the City. Worcester Now | Next pulled from existing plans such as the Green Worcester Plan and Open Space & Recreation and provides a framework for the creation of other plans on specific topics such as the Housing Production Plan or Mobility Action Plan.

In order to generate a plan that prioritizes the needs of the people of Worcester, the Now | Next process included a strategic variety of methods to engage people from all over the City, including specific efforts to engage with those who aren't typically able to attend traditional planning events. The planning process utilized online surveys, public workshops, listening tours, questionaries, and a long-term library exhibit.

In order to generate a plan that prioritizes the needs of the people of Worcester, the Now | Next process included a strategic variety of methods to engage people from all over the City, including specific efforts to engage with those who aren't typically able to attend traditional planning events. The planning process utilized online surveys, public workshops, listening tours, questionaries, and a long-term library exhibit.

A long-range plan is a term used interchangeably with comprehensive plan or master plan to identify a community plan that identifies and assesses the City's overarching goals and vision and provides a guide for long-term growth and municipal policy.