Urban Knights Planning Association

🎉Join us in welcoming the 2026–2027 Urban Knights board!

Our new leadership team brings together a diverse group of students, from junior undergraduates to second-year masters students, representing a wide range of planning interests and perspectives. We’re proud to have such a dynamic group stepping into roles of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Communications, and APA Student Representative.

We’re looking forward to a year of fresh ideas, collaboration, and continued growth for our club and community. Stay tuned for what’s ahead! 🌆✨

🚨 Urban Knights Elections Are Right Around the Corner! 🏙️🗳️

Ready to lead, represent, and shape the future of our organization? We’re now accepting applications for the following open positions:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• APA Student Representative
• Director of Communications

✨ Requirements:
• Current UCF Student
• Dues-paying Member
• An interest in Urban Planning!

📝 How to Apply:

Fill out the Google Form in the linktree in our bio

(Optional) DM our account to connect with a current member and learn more about your desired role

Wait for voting to open!

⏳ Applications close April 11th — don’t miss your chance to get involved and make an impact!

Attention all UCF Knights! ⚔️ Join us for our third technical workshop event of the semester, focused on Urban Design. We’re excited to welcome Claudia Ray, Senior Planner + Urban Designer at G*I Consultants, who will walk us through key urban design concepts, elements, and best practices shaping the cities of tomorrow.

After the speaker session, stick around for an interactive workshop where you’ll get the chance to apply what you’ve learned and engage with fellow students interested in planning and design.

📍 UCF Downtown – 528 W Livingston Street

🗓 March 25, 2026

⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a professional in the field and explore how thoughtful design can transform urban spaces! 🌆

⚠️ Attention all UCF Knights! ⚔️

Would you be ready to level up your planning and development review skills? Join us for a hands-on Development Review Workshop where you’ll learn how to break down and analyze site plans, legal descriptions, and zoning ordinances—just like the pros do.

We’re excited to welcome Roxanne Read, Project Manager at WGI, and Tina Demostene, Director of Entitlements at Palm Property Partners, who will share real-world insights and guide you through the development review process.

📍 Location: DPAC 108
🍕 Pizza Dinner: 5:40 PM
🕕 Workshop Starts: 6:00 PM

Grab some pizza, sharpen your skills, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how development projects are reviewed in the real world. You won’t want to miss it! 🚧📐

Attention all UCF Knights! ⚔️

Join us for a walking tour of Lyonia Preserve and see urban planning in action! This isn’t just a nature walk — it’s a real-life example of how sustainable planning, smart land use decisions, and strong intergovernmental partnerships can protect vital ecosystems while surrounding areas continue to grow. 🌱

From conservation zoning to coordinated efforts between local and regional agencies, Lyonia Preserve shows how thoughtful planning can heighten environmental protection and create lasting community impact.

RSVP now! Carpooling will be available 🚗 — we’re doing a head count, so make sure you do your part and fill out the Google Sheets form!

Let’s explore, learn, and see how Knights plan for a more sustainable future! 💛🖤

Attention all UCF Knights! ⚔️

Join us for a walking tour of Lyonia Preserve and see urban planning in action! This isn’t just a nature walk — it’s a real-life example of how sustainable planning, smart land use decisions, and strong intergovernmental partnerships can protect vital ecosystems while surrounding areas continue to grow. 🌎🏙️🌱

From conservation zoning to coordinated efforts between local and regional agencies, Lyonia Preserve shows how thoughtful planning can heighten environmental protection and create lasting community impact.

RSVP now! Carpooling will be available 🚗 — we’re doing a head count, so make sure you do your part and fill out the Google Sheets form!

Let’s explore, learn, and see how Knights plan for a more sustainable future 💛🖤

✏️🌆 Urban Sketching is coming to Urban Knights… We’re excited to share the first event of our Technical Skills Workshop Series this semester!

Join UCF Urban Knights Planning Club for Technical Skills Workshop #1: Urban Sketching, hosted in collaboration with Urban Sketchers Orlando. Learn the fundamentals of urban sketching, watch a live demo, and jump into a hands-on sketching exercise. No experience required and materials are provided.

🗓 February 27, 2026
⏰ 6:00 to 8:00 PM
📍 528 W Livingston St, DPAC Room 108

Come sketch with us and build your visual storytelling skills. Bring your creativity and any personal sketching supplies you love!

🎨 Hosted by Gay Geiger and Greg Bryla
🤝 In partnership with

UrbanDesign

Attention Urban Knights! 💛
We are co-sponsoring another event for aspiring urban planners, architects, housing advocates, developers, and/or policymakers! Dan Parolek’s presentation titled “The Missing Middle Housing”. According to the website of Opticos Design (of which Dan is a founder) the missing middle housing is “a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units—compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes—located in a walkable neighborhood.”
The event is FREE thanks to our generous sponsors: CNU Orlando, Ustler Group of Companies, AARP Florida, Fishback Dominick, UCF School of Public Administration, the UCF Urban Knights student organization, and the American Planning Association Orlando Metro Section.
 

Thursday, February 19, 2026
 

6:00 PM - Networking

7:00 PM - Lecture Begins
 

UCF Downtown | 528 W. Livingston Street, Orlando FL, 32801 - Dr. Phillips Academic Commons (DPAC) - Room 0106
 

RSVP Required – space is limited! (see the Eventbrite link below)
 
Food will be served.
 
APA CM credits are pending.
 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/missing-middle-housing-with-dan-parolek-tickets-1980745415859?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Attention all UCF Knights! 🖤💛
Join Urban Knights as we dive into one of the most profound topics in urban planning: Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs). Learn how CRAs operate, their impact on communities, and their role in shaping equitable and sustainable urban growth.

🎤 Guest Speakers:
• Kyle Dudgeon, AICP – Assistant Director, City of Winter Park
• Laura Smith, MPA, FRA-RA – Urban Analytics Director, G*I Consultants

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry professionals and expand your planning knowledge!

Attention all UCF Knights 🖤💛—as we progress into the new year, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and relive the moments that defined Fall Semester 2025 with the Urban Knights. From impactful general body meetings diving into big-picture conversations with fellow leaders and practitioners in the urban planning field, to showing up at major events, making memories, and proudly showing off our Knight Pride—this semester was truly one for the books.

A huge congratulations to our former board member Gabi on graduating and boldly pursuing her dreams of making the world a better, more equitable place—we’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next! ⚔️🖤💛

Here’s to growth, grit, and building what’s next—together.
Go Knights, Charge On! ⚔️🏙️