APA-WI 2025 Annual Conference

Bridging Connections: Laying the Foundation for the Future focuses on the interconnections of various planning disciplines and their role in shaping communities of tomorrow. From mobility and housing to public health and the environment, this conference will explore how planners can create forward-thinking, collaborative, and cohesive strategies that pave the way for resilient, thriving communities.

Conference Registration

Register for the conference today - early bird pricing ends August 27, 2025!

Mail-In Registration Form

Date and time

September 11 · 7:30am - September 12 · 3pm CDT

Location

La Crosse Center

300 Harborview Plaza La Crosse, WI 54601

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before the event.

Conference Agenda & Session Descriptions

Plan your time at the Conference. Use the links below to learn more about each conference session, and see the tentative Conference agenda.

Session Descriptions (Updated 8/18/2025)

Agenda (Updated 8/15/2025)

Tour Descriptions and Registration (required)

Registration for tours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday is on the ONLINE REGISTRATION and the MAIL-IN REGISTRATION forms. Tours are free, but due to space limitations, you must register.

To register a guest for the Special Wednesday Scenic Bluff Hike and Awards Presentation Lunch, go to "Add Ons" at the bottom of the online registration or the "Checks Payable" section of the mail-in form.

NEW TOUR ADDED! Friday, 9/12, 1:15-2:45 PM - Tour the La Crosse Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade and its Cutting-Edge Treatment Processes. (see below)

Scenic Bluff Hike

(Wednesday, 9/10, 5:30-7:30 pm)

The hike offers a medium-difficulty loop with a moderate incline through scenic bluff trails.

Along the way, participants will enjoy panoramic views of the city as the sun sets. This guided tour is a great way to experience the natural beauty surrounding the city while connecting with fellow attendees. Sturdy shoes and water are recommended!

Bus Tour of the La Crosse River Point District

(Thursday, 9/11, 10 am-Noon)

Decades in the making, the City of La Crosse River Point District is the city's most significant development. Working with the Redevelopment Authority of La Crosse, the city acquired property, conducted brownfield clean-up, and implemented floodplain remediation.

Join City and RDA staff, along with the design team and construction administrators from Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH). They will share stories from the ongoing work to transform this 65-acre site into 900 new housing units and 30 acres of trail and recreation space.

Bus Tour of La Crosse Affordable Housing Developments

(Thursday, 9/11, 2-4 pm)

Take a tour of affordable buildings/apartments developed in La Crosse.

You'll have the opportunity to participate in a discussion with topics expected to include funding, partnerships, challenges, and successes.

Walking tour of Downtown

(Friday. 9/12, 9:45-11:45 am)

The tour begins right outside La Crosse Center. Information will be provided about the La Crosse Economic Toolbox. Learn how the toolbox (beginning in the 1990s) is used for redevelopment, restoration, and rehabilitation of the city's Downtown and historic district, leveraging both private and public investment. The building tours include a discussion with each building's owners about the process.

La Crosse Bike Tour

(Friday, 9/12, 1-3 pm)

Bring your own bike or use one from the successful La Crosse bike share program - Drift Cycle.

This tour includes a chance to see existing bicycle facilities while learning all about the program. Find out how the program received some funding through grants and was able to effectively generate public engagement. There will also be a review of the bike share's successes, perceived failures, and the challenges that were faced.

La Crosse Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour

(Friday, 9/12, 1:15 - 2:45 PM)

The City of La Crosse WWTP is nearly completed. A $65 million upgrade is using cutting-edge treatment processes, providing filtration of effluents to meet low-level phosphorus compliance, production of heat biosolids for reuse, an HSW receiving area, and enhanced methane gas to energy production.

Sign up on Eventbrite even if you have already registered. This is a free event.

2025 Annual Conference Hotel Reservations (limited availability!)

Home2 Suites by Hilton La Crosse

Group rate of $154 available until September 1.

Reserve online.

210 Jay Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601, USA, Opens new tab

Close to the Children’s Museum of La Crosse, the Weber Center for the Arts, and city center restaurants.

Radison Hotel La Crosse

$135 - $145 Group Rate - use code "American Planning Assn - WI Chapter"

Individual Reservations:

Room reservations are on an individual basis. Make reservations by calling the Hotel directly, Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm CST at 608-784-6680

Online registrations are temporarily unavailable.

200 Second Street South, 200 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601

Things To Do While You're In La Crosse

Attend the MOON TUNES Finale Concert!

Thursday, 9/11, starting at 5:30

Moon Tunes, is in its 14th season at Riverside Park in La Crosse, WI, as a free public Concert Series (but consider contributing to the donation buckets!). Bring your lawn chairs, beverages & snacks, and hear music from some of the greatest musicians in the La Crosse area.

2025 APA-WI AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Every year at the APA-WI Annual Conference, we recognize outstanding achievements by some of our members. They will receive the awards at 1:00 pm on Thursday during the Awards Lunch. We encourage awardees to bring special guests. Sign up for guest lunches on Eventbrite!

Here are this year's award winners.

BEST PRACTICE
Dane County Regional Housing Strategy
East River Trail Master Plan
Rock River District
Vision Zero Action Plan (City of Sun Prairie)
Tosa for Tomorrow 2045 Comprehensive Plan

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
La Crosse County Economic Development Plan

IMPLEMENTATION
Lakeshore Commons

STUDENT
UWM-A Sustainability Plan for the Village of Elm Grove
UWM-MIlwaukee: A Vibrant Market City

RETIREE
Sandy Scherer (Retired from Waukesha County)
Anna Haines (Retired from UW-Stevens Point)
Dave Mack (Retired from Marathon County)

BOARD MEMBER
Douglas Plowman (VP of Awards and Recognition) 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SPONSOR THE 2025 APA-WI ANNUAL CONFERENCE!

For over 50 years, the American Planning Association - Wisconsin Chapter (APA-WI) has hosted annual conferences. This year, we’re very excited to be at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse on September 11 and 12, 2025. We invite you to join us and to sign on as a sponsor. Your support is so very important and helps to make the conference more memorable. Use the links below to learn more and sign up.

Sponsorship Levels

Sponsorship Sign-Up

This year’s conference theme is Bridging Connections: Laying the Foundation for the Future. The conference will focus on the interconnections of various planning disciplines and their role in shaping communities of tomorrow.

Break-out tracks include Housing for All, Transportation & Mobility, Public Health & the Environment, Economic Development, Tourism, & Recreation, and Back to the Basics: Planning, Collaboration & Implementation. We’ll be examining these topics and others through the lens of equity, diversity, and justice. We encourage your organization to send a presentation proposal!

Please join our Sponsorship Team for the 2025 conference.

Your participation helps to make these events a great learning experience for participants and affords a great opportunity to promote your work and make valuable business connections. In addition to recognizing your organization’s participation in the program and on our website, we will provide conference registrations and an exhibit table. Take a look at the sponsorship levels and all that’s included with each level.

Sponsor early so your logo appears on all the promotional materials!