Planning NEXT is thrilled to announce that FrameworkOP, the comprehensive planning effort for Overland Park, Kansas, has won not just one, but two awards from the American Planning Association Kansas chapter! Planning NEXT co-led the FrameworkOP comprehensive planning process with Clarion Associates, following the completion of the ForwardOP visioning process, which was also led by Planning NEXT. The vital collaboration provided by our decades-long partner, Clarion Associate’s Chapel Hill office, made FrameworkOP possible. These awards — the 2024 APA Kansas Meadowlark Award and the 2024 APA Kansas Pioneer Award — honor projects that raise awareness of planning’s power to enhance community quality of life. FrameworkOP stands as a testament to Overland Park’s commitment to maintaining its status as a leading, high-expectation community—one where collaboration and a shared vision fuel transformative outcomes.
Located in Johnson County, Kansas, in the Kansas City region, Overland Park’s population of nearly 200,000 looks to FrameworkOP for a future characterized by high quality of life. The plan outlines an intentional strategy for growth through 2045, focusing on quality of life, land use, economic vitality, housing, mobility, and environmental sustainability. Rooted in the visioning process from ForwardOP, a collaboration that began over six years ago, FrameworkOP builds upon a trusted, longstanding relationship between the City and Planning NEXT. We are honored that the City felt strongly about the work completed in the visioning process that they would continue the collaborative partnership, making these awards a celebration of our shared achievements.
In Johnson County’s thriving community, it’s no surprise that this project had another pillar of support: Ruth, the administrative heart of the planning department. Known as the “glue” of the department, Ruth’s foresight and care were essential in keeping the project moving smoothly. Every project needs a Ruth!
We’re proud to share this success with Overland Park, celebrating the people, the vision, and the two Kansas APA Awards that acknowledge our commitment to community-driven planning!
