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Special Conference Features


Optional Events, Networking Activities, & Special Features
Several optional workshops, networking activities, and other special features are part of, or are being held in conjunction with — the 9th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. Additional fees apply and pre-registration is required for some of these events, while others are free to any conference attendees interested in participating.

NPSG Event Networking Site

NEW for the 2010 conference in Seattle, the LGC has established a private social event networking site for participants, speakers and sponsors. Once registered, you will be able to begin networking right away with others who plan to be at the conference.

This networking site allows you to:

  • Search and browse a complete participant directory (updated regularly as new people register)
  • Send messages and set up 1:1 meetings
  • Share your own personal profile and web content with others
  • Find others attending from your region or others who share your program interests
  • Build and export a personalized conference schedule
  • View an interactive conference program that includes scheduled sessions, networking activities and other special events
  • View interactive floor plans of the meeting space and sponsor displays
  • Post announcements, exchange comments and participate in discussions via event-wide forums
  • View an interactive map of the local area, including local restaurants and tourist attractions

Approximately 3-5 days after your registration is processed, you will receive an email message welcoming you to the NPSG Networking Site along with instructions on how to log in and update your profile. We hope you take advantage of this exciting opportunity created to increase your ability to connect and interact with other participants before, during and after the conference.

Optional Pre-Conference Tour

Smart Growth in Small Towns — February 1-3

Join walkability expert Dan Burden for an action-packed 2-1/2 day tour of small towns in the Pacific Northwest by coach bus, bicycle, walking and ferry. The February 1-3 tour starts at noon on Monday from SeaTac Airport and ends at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle on Wednesday night.

The Pacific Northwest has been a leader in the smart growth and healthy communities movements. Small towns are often flexible enough to bring about change faster than large metropolitan areas. The tour will visit over 10 neighborhoods, towns and small cities to explore key issues facing many communities, including downtown revitalization, infill housing, green development and transformation of suburban bedroom communities to complete towns and cities.

Tour Leaders:

Dan Burden is considered North America’s walkability guru with over 30 years of experience in designing for pedestrians and bicyclists. Dan is a principal at Glatting Jackson and founder of Walkable Communities. Since 1995, he has visited and worked in over 200 communities every year and has traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Paul Zykofsky, AICP, is Director of the Center for Livable Communities at the Local Government Commission. Over the past 15 years he has worked with local jurisdictions on creating walkable, livable communities that incorporate the best principles of Smart Growth and placemaking.

Optional Pre-Conference Workshop

Working Together for Equitable Development: Voices and Lessons from
Environmental Justice and Smart Growth
Wednesday, February 3rd — 8:30am – 5:00pm

The smart growth movement has often been criticized for not meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities. This day-long workshop will bring together leaders from the smart growth, environmental justice and equitable development movements to assess this critique and identify opportunities for these three movements to work together more effectively. Hear from community and national leaders as they discuss their experiences and seek to improve the understanding of why integrating these efforts is critical and necessary to right past wrongs; revitalize America's disadvantaged communities; grow the economy; and create healthy and sustainable urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities. Pre-registration and a $25 registration fee are required. Includes lunch and refreshments. Click here (Microsoft Word, 32 KB) to download the workshop agenda. To register for this workshop, use the online registration system, or download the registration form from the registration page.

Networking Reception

Thursday, February 4th — 8:45-10:00pm
The first full day of sessions and tours will be capped off with a dynamic evening plenary and a hosted networking reception. This social event is designed to get our multi-disciplinary audience talking and networking with each other early in the conference.

FTA- Sponsored Lunch

Regional Planning for Sustainable and Livable Communities: Opportunities to Support Smart Growth and TOD
Thursday, February 4

The interagency partnership among DOT, HUD and EPA to coordinate federal transportation, housing and environmental quality identified principles and opportunities to help American families gain better access to affordable housing, more transportation options and lower transportation costs. This session features facilitated discussion among practitioners on strategies for advancing livability and sustainability within a regional planning context.  The session includes a complimentary box lunch for the first 50 people who attend.