Southwest Section

The Southwest Section represents members from the following counties:

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene,
Huntingdon , Indiana, Somerset , Washington, Westmoreland

Orientation Guide

Website

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in a dense forest

Section Council

Section Chair

Zach Hollingshad
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Vice Chair

Trajan Jones
Indiana Borough

Secretary

Denny Puko
Consultant

Treasurer

Carrie Machuga, AICP
McCormick Taylor

Professional Planner
Members-at-Large

RJ Susko
OHM Advisors
Sommer Schneller, AICP
Herbert, Howland & Grubic

Planning Official Representative

Vacant

Professional Development Representative

Vacant

News

News Governance / Working In Planning

IUP Receives Outstanding Planning Student Organization Award

Presentations

Presentation Economic Development

A United Fight Against Blight: The Alle-Kiski Regional…

Presentation Economic Development

Transforming Communities: Tackling Blight…

Presentation Economic Development Environment

Assessing the Economic Impact of Trails…

Presentation Comprehensive Plan Law & Policy

Ins and Outs of Multi-Municipal Zoning from Creation to Implementation

Presentation Economic Development Urban Design & Placemaking

When a Place Reaches Its Breaking Point: Mending 100 Years of Development Abuse

Presentation Law & Policy

Setting Equitable Boundaries for Zoning Districts

Presentation Economic Development

Mitigating Blight for the Win: Greensburg’s Elevated Strategy Toolbox

Presentation Healthy Communities

Trauma-Informed Planning to Address Food Insecurity in Pittsburgh

Presentation Economic Development Environment Urban Design & Placemaking

Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Plan Guide: A Collaborative Framework for Sustainable Communities

Presentation Community Engagement Environment

Elevating Greenway Planning: Incorporating Environmental Justice, Urban Landscapes, and Ecological Restoration

Awards

Award Great Places

2025 Great Public Space: Outdoor Discovery Space & Sensory Nature Trail

Award Great Places

2025 Great Public Space: Boyce Bouldering Park and Pump Track

Award Comprehensive Plan

2024 Award for a Project, Program or Practice: Allegheny Together

Award Economic Development Great Places

2024 Great Transformation: New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue (Westmoreland County)

Award Environment Transportation Urban Design & Placemaking

2022 Award for a Plan: Completing the Loop

Award Economic Development Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2022 Great Public Space: Etna Borough Riverfront Trail and Park (Allegheny County)

Award Community Engagement Technology Transportation

2022 Award for a Plan – SmartMoves Connections: A Regional Vision for Public Transit

Award Comprehensive Plan Environment

2021 Award for a Project, Program, or Practice: Allegheny Green Web

Award Economic Development Great Places Healthy Communities Urban Design & Placemaking

2021 Great Street: Butler Street, Etna Borough (Allegheny County)

Award Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2020 Great Public Space: Northeast Fountain in Allegheny Commons Park, City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)

Award Community Engagement Economic Development Environment

2020 Award for a Plan: Etna EcoDistrict Plan

Award Governance / Working In Planning

2019 Award for a Leader – Professional Planner: James R. Hassinger, Ph.D., AICP

Award Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2019 Great Public Space: Diamond Park, Ligonier Borough (Westmoreland County)

Award Governance / Working In Planning

2019 Award for a Leader – Citizen Planner: Laurie Lafontaine

Award Governance / Working In Planning

2019 Award for a Leader – Elected Official: R.J. Sokol

Award Economic Development Urban Design & Placemaking

2019 Certificate of Merit: Addressing the Consequences of Depopulation with Smart Decline Techniques in Johnstown

Award Comprehensive Plan

2018 Award for a Comprehensive Plan: Alleghenies Ahead – Shared Strategies for a Stronger Region

Award Great Places Transportation Urban Design & Placemaking

2018 Great Greenway/Trail: Boyce Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair Township (Allegheny County)

Award Comprehensive Plan

2018 Award for a Plan: Uptown/West Oakland EcoInnovation District

Award Environment Law & Policy

2018 Award for a Project, Program or Practice: Greenways for Pittsburgh 2.0

Award Governance / Working In Planning

2017 Student Project: Capstone Seminar in Planning and Digital Governance Graduate School Public and International Affairs

Award Economic Development Environment

2017 Planning Excellence Award – Best Practice: Pittsburgh Vacant Lot Toolkit

Award Governance / Working In Planning

2017 Planning Leadership Award – Professional Planner: Dr. Whit Watts

Award Environment Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2017 Great Public Space: Aspinwall Borough’s Riverfront Park (Allegheny County)

Award Comprehensive Plan

2017 Certificate of Merit – Pine Township (Allegheny County)

Award Community Engagement Economic Development Environment Urban Design & Placemaking

2016 Planning Excellence Award – Plan Other Than a Comprehensive Plan: Millvale Pivot 2.0 EcoDistrict Plan

Award Great Places Transportation Urban Design & Placemaking

2016 Great Street: Penn Avenue, City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)

Award Economic Development Environment Great Places

2016 Great Greenway/Trail: Great Allegheny Passage (Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties; Allegany County, MD)

Award Law & Policy

2016 Planning Excellence Award – Best Practice: Zoning Ordinance of Clymer Borough

Award Comprehensive Plan Governance / Working In Planning

2015 Planning Leadership Award – Professional Planner – James W. Pashek

Award Economic Development

2015 Planning Excellence Award – Plan Other Than a Comprehensive Plan: Upper Lawrenceville Community Visioning and Targeted Development Strategy Study

Award Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2015 Great Public Space: Clearview Common, Mt. Lebanon Township (Allegheny County)

Award Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking

2015 Great Public Space: Market Square, City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)

Award Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking