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.

1 minute read

October 2, 2014, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Portland Transit Mall

mike krzeszak / Flickr

The APA this week announced "the country's 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets , and 10 Great Public Spaces for 2014 through the organization's national program, Great Places in America."

William Anderson, FAICP, president of APA, is quoted in the press release:

Our Great Places in America designees reflect many important aspects of planning, including community engagement and economic benefits….These exemplary neighborhoods, streets and public spaces showcase the great results that come about when diverse groups of people work together to create communities with lasting value. It is a pleasure to celebrate locales from across the country during National Community Planning Month, and add to our already distinguished list of previous great place designees.

In addition to the 30 places already chosen, the APA is searching for a "People's Choice" selection for the 31st Great Place in America: "Nominate your favorite street, neighborhood, or public space on APA's social media pages: Twitter or Instagram (use #mygreatplace) or Facebook. Nominations are due by October 15; voting will follow and APA will announce the People's Choice designee on October 31."

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 in American Planning Association

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

2 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

4 hours ago - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

6 hours ago - InTransition Magazine