• Join City of Salem planners for fun, food and a chance to better understand how planners work to improve the wellbeing of people in our communities.

Salem, Ore. — Salem’s planners will take a fun approach to community planning with the second annual Planner Palooza, Monday, October 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fork 40 Food Hall, 440 State Street.

They are celebrating National Community Planning Month by reaching out to the community and making community planning more accessible – and fun!

"As planners, we often interact with people when they want to build something on their property, or a development is proposed in their neighborhood,” Lisa Anderson-Ogilvie, Assistant Director of Community Development.  “This event is an opportunity to engage with the community in a different way. We want to help people understand what planning is, while also just getting to know them. Planner Palooza is a celebration of planning, and planning is all about improving the community."

The goal of planning is to maximize the health, safety and economic well-being of all people living in our communities. This involves thinking about how we can:

• Move around our community
• Attract and retain thriving businesses
• Where we want to live
• Opportunities for recreation

The goal is to create communities of lasting value.

For another approach to understanding community planning, check out the Land Use Planning video playlist on YouTube.

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