Atlanta is set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU) with a year-long celebration.
Established by city legislation back on Aug. 13, 1974, the NPU system has been the official channel for residents and businesses to influence neighborhood planning for almost five decades now.
As part of the anniversary celebration, the Department of City Planning is leading a collaborative effort with the mayor’s office, city departments, partner agencies and local organizations to organize a comprehensive series of events and programs throughout the year.
The commemorative initiative aims to “help celebrate expressions of civic power and reach more Atlantans with the opportunity to be part of this work,” according to a release.
The celebration will unfold in three phases. The first, titled “Legacy of Love” (January through April), honors NPU trailblazers and pays homage to Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor.
Atlanta’s former mayor expressed the importance of public participation during his 1974 inaugural speech when he said, “We must be a city of love, and our definition of love must be a definition of action… Love must be a city filled with people working together to improve the quality of all our lives.”
In the subsequent phases (May through August and September through December), the city will shift its focus towards celebrating the NPU system’s present achievements and reimagining its future for the next 50 years.
“Neighborhood Planning Units have reached their 50th year thanks to the vision of Mayor Maynard Jackson, and thanks to the residents and businesses who show their love of their city through community engagement,” said Mayor Andre Dickens.
“As we celebrate this milestone, let us continue to move Atlanta forward by further empowering participation in the collaborative city planning provided in NPUs.”
For more information about the NPU 50th anniversary celebration, visit npuatlanta.org.