Project Archive

Practicum Projects

Over the years, the Urban & Regional Planning Practicum has partnered with communities across Michigan to address a diverse range of planning challenges through collaborative, community-engaged projects. Each practicum project reflects a unique partnership between students, faculty, and community organizations, combining applied research, stakeholder engagement, technical analysis, and creative problem-solving to produce professional planning recommendations. Together, these projects demonstrate the program's commitment to advancing sustainable, equitable, and resilient communities while preparing students for professional planning practice. The resulting reports serve as valuable community resources, providing ideas, strategies, and implementation frameworks that can support future planning initiatives, policy development, grant applications, and local decision-making.

MSU Urban and Regional Planning students have partnered with communities throughout Michigan on projects including:

  • Neighborhood plans and community development strategies
  • Corridor and commercial district studies
  • Downtown revitalization plans
  • Transportation, mobility, and complete streets initiatives
  • Housing needs assessments and neighborhood stabilization strategies
  • Parks, recreation, and public-space planning
  • Redevelopment and adaptive reuse concepts
  • Zoning and land-use policy research
  • Climate resilience and environmental planning
  • Economic development and implementation strategies

We invite you to explore our archive of previous practicum projects to learn how faculty, students, and community partners have collaborated to develop innovative planning solutions that address local priorities and create lasting community impact. Each project highlights the breadth of planning topics addressed by the practicum and highlights the program's ongoing commitment to applied learning, public engagement, and community-centered planning.

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  • Sterling Heights Van Dyke Corridor Plan

    Published on August 8, 2025
    This transformation plan provides a data-driven, community-informed roadmap for converting the corridor into a vibrant, accessible, and economically resilient mixed-use destination.

  • Warren Van Dyke Corridor Plan

    Published on August 8, 2025
    The goal of this plan is to strategically promote community-driven local economic development that helps increase livability, improve walkability, and provide equity-driven solutions for attracting development.

  • Lansing Riverfront Activation Project

    Published on August 8, 2025
    The Lansing Riverfront Activation Project is an implementation-focused plan developed by the MSU Urban and Regional Planning Practicum Team in partnership with the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

  • City of Beaverton Public Parking Study

    Published on August 8, 2025
    The City of Beaverton applied to host a practicum project because of a need to reevaluate the use, occupancy, and value of the public parking available within its Central Business District.

  • Sign Ordinance Compliance, Zoning, and Research for Delhi and Watertown Townships

    Published on August 8, 2025
    Sign Ordinance Compliance, Zoning, and Research is a student-led project responsible for examining and enhancing the sign regulations within the Zoning Ordinances of Delhi Charter Township and Watertown Charter Township.

  • Civic Park Neighborhood Renaissance Plan

    Published on June 12, 2024
    The City of Flint, Michigan, engaged Michigan State University’s Urban and Regional Planning Practicum to create an implementation plan for the Civic Park Neighborhood.

  • Morningside Housing Revitalization Strategy

    Published on June 12, 2024
    Organizations in the community of Morningside - a neighborhood located on the eastside of Detroit, MI - who work to improve housing conditions and increase homeowner education are seeking further research to assess community housing needs.

  • St. Johns Gateway Improvement Plan Executive Summary

    Published on June 12, 2024
    The goals of this project aim to introduce strategies focusing on land repurposing and economic development on the project site to improve the St. Johns community.

  • Ladybug Sustainable Community

    Published on June 12, 2024
    The Ladybug Sustainable Community project in Lansing, Michigan, is a pioneering initiative aimed at creating an inclusive, environmentally sensitive urban agri-community.

  • Downtown Utica Sub-Area Plan

    Published on June 12, 2024
    This report focuses on ways to revitalize Utica’s downtown to improve connectivity, streetscape, and downtown form.