Plan NH Celebrates Milestone 80th Charrette, Empowering Communities Across New Hampshire Since 1996
Portsmouth, NH – Plan NH is excited to announce the completion of its 80th community design charrette, marking a significant milestone in our three-decade-long mission of partnering with communities across the state to create healthier, more vibrant, and resilient places to live, work, and play.
Since our first charrette in the Town of Belmont in 1996, Plan NH has collaborated with 68 of New Hampshire’s 234 communities, bringing together diverse teams of architects, planners, engineers, and other professionals. These volunteer experts work alongside community leaders and residents to address challenges and envision sustainable futures for key areas such as downtowns, village centers, neighborhoods, and other crucial community spaces.
Plan NH’s charrettes are a two-day intensive process where the team visits the project area, engages in visioning conversations with the people who live and work there, and develops practical recommendations tailored to the community’s unique needs. These recommendations are informed not only by what the team hears and observes on-site, but also by the latest knowledge and trends in community planning and design.
“The beauty of the charrette process is that it is a true collaboration—an exchange of ideas and perspectives between professionals and community members,” said Tiffany Tononi McNamara, Executive Director of Plan NH. “We are proud to have worked with so many communities across the state, helping them tackle tough issues with creative, people-centered solutions.”
Plan NH’s charrette program is rooted in the belief that the built environment plays a crucial role in fostering healthy, inclusive, and vibrant communities. By facilitating thoughtful dialogue and collaboration, Plan NH empowers New Hampshire’s towns and cities to think creatively about their community’s future and to take action toward more sustainable and livable environments. Importantly, the charrette process encourages increased participation in the visioning and planning process.
This 80th charrette milestone, completed in Newmarket, NH, is not just a celebration of what we’ve accomplished, but a renewed commitment to supporting the needs and aspirations of communities across New Hampshire for many years to come. For more information about Plan NH and our community design charrette program, please visit https://plannh.org/ or contact tiffany@plannh.org.
About Plan NH:
Established in 1989, Plan NH is a 501(c)3 organization, with a growing membership of planners, designers, builders, and others. We have a mission to “foster excellence in planning, design and development of New Hampshire’s built environment” and a vision of vibrant communities across the state. Through programs like design charrettes and educational initiatives, Plan NH encourages towns and cities across New Hampshire to think holistically about their future growth and development.
Download the full press release here.
