County Planning Department Opens Applications for Neighborhood Academy

The Maryland–National Capital Park & Planning Commission's Prince George's County Planning Department announced January 5–6 that applications opened for the spring cohort of its Neighborhood Planning Academy, an instructional series designed to equip residents with tools to influence local planning and development. The academy emphasizes urban planning fundamentals, community engagement practices, and sustainable, neighborhood-focused development.

The department said the academy is designed for residents who want to learn how planning processes work and how to participate in land-use decisions that affect their communities. Application materials and the academy portal are available through the Planning Department's website, where prospective participants can find the program page and contact information for further questions.

The Neighborhood Planning Academy aims to demystify technical planning topics and give community members a working understanding of how plans, public hearings, and local engagement shape projects ranging from zoning changes to public-space improvements. For Prince George's County, where development pressures, transportation planning, and housing needs intersect with historic neighborhoods and diverse populations, the program is presented as a way to broaden participation in decision-making and strengthen local capacity for civic input.

Organizers framed the curriculum around three pillars: foundational urban planning concepts, effective public-engagement techniques, and approaches to sustainable neighborhood development. By teaching residents how planning decisions are made and how to engage constructively, the academy seeks to improve the quality of local input at community meetings, advisory panels, and formal hearings. That practical knowledge can help residents better advocate for outcomes tied to pedestrian safety, public amenities, and equitable growth.

The initiative also fits larger trends in municipal governance that emphasize inclusive participation and resilience. Training local residents to understand planning tools can reduce barriers to engagement for communities historically underrepresented in land-use discussions and can align neighborhood priorities with countywide strategies on sustainability and infrastructure.

Prince George's County residents interested in applying should consult the Planning Department's Neighborhood Planning Academy page on the Maryland–National Capital Park & Planning Commission website for application instructions and contact details. The spring cohort opens a pathway for residents to deepen their understanding of planning processes and to play a more informed role in shaping the county's built environment.