1927 RPA Plan1 v1 New York Region Painted by Jules Guerine (cropped)

Celebrating a Century of Research, Planning, and Advocacy

The Committee on the Plan of New York and its Environs formed in 1922 and released the First Regional Plan in 1929. For 100 years, RPA has worked to create a more equitable, healthy, prosperous, and sustainable region.
Extra space RPA100 Logo
1923 New York Times on the Regional Plan scan

From 1922 to 2022

RPA Centennial 1 C Alexander Severin
This exhibition brought a new way of seeing the New York metro region - and understanding its rise to greatness - to the majestic halls of Grand Central Terminal for three weeks in October, 2022.
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1949 RPA Comic cropped, new focal point
Since 1922, Regional Plan Association has developed and promoted ideas to improve the economic health, environmental resiliency, and quality of life in the tri-state region.
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Regional Plans

RPA Regional Plan of New York and Environs Cover
Since 1929, Regional Plan Association has released four long-range plans to guide the growth and development of the region.
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RPA Across the Region

RPA Plan1 v2 324 View of Manhattan 600
RPA helped build the foundation for urban planning in New York City in the 1930s and played a key role in some of the city’s most contentious planning proposals. RPA has consistently called for concentrating growth in centers like midtown Manhattan, downtown Brooklyn, and Jamaica, Queens, and consistently put forward solutions for tackling congestion.
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1987 Fairfield 2000 01 cropped
RPA supported the creation of the Merritt Parkway and the expansion of Sherwood Island State Park, undertook a massive community-centered project about housing and zoning in the 1980s called Fairfield 2000, and has remained a champion of the city Bridgeport, CT for decades.
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RPA100 brownfield nj
RPA has long advocated for investments in regional centers like Newark and Paterson, supported the acquisition of land to create and expand parks and open space, like Garret Mountain, Sandy Hook, and Sterling Forest, and sought to better connect New Jersey to the rest of the region.
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Hudson History Header Image
RPA supported the expansion of parkland and protected open space like Bear Mountain and the Shawangunks, led a community-centered urban planning initiative in the 1980s called Westchester 2000, and continues to advocate for balancing open space preservation with community development.
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LI open space crop
RPA tried to discourage sprawl on Long Island in the late 1940s through reports and advocacy efforts, battled with Robert Moses over Fire Island and the Long Island Sound, and helped create Gateway National Recreation Area, the first US national park in an urban area.
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