WASHINGTON - (Business Wire) The American Planning Association (APA) announced today the country's 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Public Spaces that have been singled out for 2008 through the organization
’s
Great Places in America national program. Launched in 2007,
Great Places in America is APA
’s flagship program celebrating places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.
“From U.S. border towns to Society Hill in Philadelphia to some of the oldest streets in America, a wonderful diversity of places from across the United States are represented by this year’s designees,” said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, FAICP.
“We’re honored to recognize the spirit and fortitude of the civic leaders and residents of these communities whose efforts show you do not have to level a neighborhood in order to spur urban renewal,” he continued. “These Great Places are shining examples of planning at its best, when revitalization includes affordable housing, strengthens local economies, and puts green and sustainable ideas into action,” Farmer said.
APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America's truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces are defined by many unique criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces.
The designees of Great Places in America 2008 are not ranked, but listed alphabetically. They are located in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Additional details about each designee are available at www.planning.org/greatplaces/.
2008 Great Neighborhoods in America
- Charles Village (Baltimore, MD)
- Downtown Salem (Salem, MA)
- Downtown Sheridan (Sheridan, WY)
- Echo Park (Los Angeles, CA)
- Greater Park Hill (Denver, CO)
- Greater University Hill (Syracuse, NY)
- North End (Boise, ID)
- Old Town (Wichita, KS)
- Society Hill (Philadelphia, PA)
- Village of Mariemont (Mariemont, OH)
2008 Great Streets in America
- 7th Avenue (Ybor City, Tampa, FL)
- Broad Street (Philadelphia, PA)
- Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards (Arlington, VA)
- Commercial Street (Portland, ME)
- Main Street (Annapolis, MD)
- Mill Avenue (Tempe, AZ)
- South El Paso Street (El Paso, TX)
- Summit Avenue (St. Paul, MN)
- Washington Street (Boston, MA)
- West Main Street (Louisville, KY)
2008 Great Public Spaces in America
- Central Park (New York City, NY)
- Church Street Marketplace (Burlington, VT)
- Mellon Square (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Pioneer Courthouse Square (Portland, OR)
- Santa Monica Beach (Santa Monica, CA)
- Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
- Waterfront Park (Charleston, SC)
- Waterplace Park (Providence, RI)
- West Side Market (Cleveland, OH)
- Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza (Prescott, AZ)
As this year’s designees illustrate, communities across the nation are contending with a variety of concerns from global warming, transportation and housing options to health issues such as obesity to economic growth stimulation and job creation. Planners work to develop effective and innovative solutions that offer more housing and transportation choices; mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhoods; and sustainable and environmentally compatible development that enhances quality of life and builds strong and prosperous communities.
This year's 10 Great Neighborhoods, 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Public Spaces will be celebrated as part of APA's National Community Planning Month in October 2008, designed to recognize and celebrate the many residents, leaders, officials, and professionals who contribute to making great communities. For more about National Community Planning Month, visit www.planning.org/ncpm.
The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning — physical, economic and social — so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Ill., and Shanghai, China. For more information, visit its website at www.planning.org.
APA
Denny Johnson, Tel. 202.349.1006; djohnson@planning.org
or
APA
Richard Lukas, Tel. 202.349.1010; rlukas@planning.org
