APA’s Great Places in America offers a strong foundation for planning any small city or town. City planning can benefit greatly from the APA’s analysis of the factors that make great places. American Planning Association’s flagship program, Great Places in America, celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. The qualities used to selected great places is directly transferable to small city and town planners and economic development directors. By understanding the qualities valued in “great places” small cities and towns can decide whether or not to seek the development or enhancement of these qualities.
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.
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 criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
Visit http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/Â
For the 2013 Great Places in America Slideshow
List of the Great Places in America by state
Criteria
APA’s Great Places:
- exemplary character, quality, and planning.
- a true sense of place,
- cultural and historical interest,
- community involvement, and
- a vision for tomorrow.
APA’s truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces:
- architectural features,
- accessibility,
- functionality and
- community involvement.