The American Planning Association has announced four neighborhoods, six public spaces, and three streets as 2019 Great Places in America honorees. Nominations for the people's Choice category are still open.
"Every year, the American Planning Association (APA) helps us to better understand what makes an outstanding spot with its Great Places in America program, which recognizes towns that have created spaces that exemplify healthy revitalization, support cultural identity, and foster community," writes Liz Stinson in an article that promotes the 2019 version of the APA's Great Places awards.
"What do all of these places have in common? On the surface, not much. But each was created to address a need in its community, be it a place for families to have a picnic or a revitalization of a formerly distressed downtown."
The complete list of winners reads as follows, with links to the APA's write up on each:
2019 Great Neighborhoods
- Downtown Lee's Summit, Lee's Summit, Missouri
- Downtown Patchogue Village, Patchogue Village, New York
- Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio
- Historic Downtown Delaware, Delaware, Ohio
2019 Great Public Spaces
- Pioneer Park, Mesa, Arizona
- Neponset River Greenway, Boston, Massachusetts
- Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook, Amsterdam, New York
- Governors Island, New York, New York
- Gathering Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Discovery Green, Houston, Texas
2019 Great Streets
- Artery Hopkins, Hopkins, Minnesota
- Water Street, Henderson, Nevada
- Cleveland Street, Redmond, Washington
As noted by Stinson, the APA will accept nominees for the People's Choice award through October 11th. The public will vote on the finalists next week, and then the APA will announce the People's Choice finalist on Wednesday, October 30.
For a record of previous Great Places honorees, see Planetizen coverage from 2018, and additional coverage from across the years. The APA also has a story map that links to 290 locations in the United States that have been designated as Great Places since the program began in 2007.
FULL STORY: What makes a place great? Urban planners explain with 13 examples across the U.S.
The Promise and Significance of Planning Month
This October, the American Planning Association celebrated National Community Planning Month, or #PlanningMonth for short.
APA Announces the 2015 'Great Places in America'
The APA's flagship program is back with its 2015 iteration—celebrating the best neighborhoods, public spaces, and streets in the United States.
Neighborhoods, Streets, and Public Space: 30 'Great Places in America'
The American Planning Association (APA) has released its annual list of 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets, and 10 Great Public Spaces.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.
Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.
Can Progressive Planners Appeal to Conservative Principles?
Trump’s approach to policies like NYC’s congestion pricing isn’t just irrational and wasteful — it defies the tenets of conservatism. But there are ways to reframe the issues.
Oak Park Plans Earth Month Events
Join Oak Park, Illinois, for a series of Earth Month events highlighting the importance of community engagement and education, integrating sustainability into local plans, and planning for the most vulnerable, such as birds, bees and butterflies.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Florida Atlantic University
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland