From a press release:
2015 Great Places in NC initiative invites residents to nominate favorite main streets and parks
Do you love strolling down your Main Street? Shopping, people-watching, eating, or hanging out with friends and family on a beautiful afternoon? Have you ever wanted to say “thank you” to your favorite greenway or show your appreciate for an historic rehabilitation project that truly makes your community great? Do you know of a place that’s still being planned for greatness?
Now is your chance to show your love for your favorite Main Street or Public Place by nominating it for the 2015 Great Places in North Carolina award!
Beginning Jan. 5, you can nominate “Great Main Streets,” and a “Great Main Street in the Making,” thanks to the fourth annual “Great Places in North Carolina” initiative. Building on the program’s success over the past three years, the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC) will again recognize “Great Main Streets” throughout North Carolina. New this year, the program will also recognize one “Great Greenway” and one “Great Historic Rehabilitation” in the “People’s Choice” category.
After the month-long nomination period has ended, the excitement begins. For the “People’s Choice” category, the nominations are carefully narrowed down by an expert panel of professionals across the state. Then, voters will use an online voting site to cast their vote for their favorite Greenway or Historic Rehabilitation. For the “General Category,” that same expert panel chooses the winners based on specific selection criteria. A total of seven Great Places will be chosen! After that it is a celebration, with a special event held in each community.
Visit greatplacesnc.org for information on how to nominate a Great Place.
Nominations: Jan. 5-30
Online voting: Feb. 9-27“We are very excited about the 2015 edition of our program, which includes two new categories recognizing Great Greenways and Great Historic Rehabilitation projects,” said Jason Burdette, chair of the initiative and a planner with the Town of Davidson. “We invite residents across North Carolina to join us in identifying and celebrating great places throughout our state.”
Winners will be announced in early March. Each will receive a framed certificate, hold a celebration, and will be featured at greatplacesnc.org.
Great Places in North Carolina is an awards program created in 2012 to highlight North Carolina’s Great Places and the communities and people that have created them. North Carolina is full of amazing places that make this state a wonderful place to live, bring important money and jobs into our economy, and keep our communities thriving. Many people work hard to create, sustain, and improve these places, including citizens, planners, business leaders, and elected officials. This is a chance for everyone to celebrate together! Join us as we celebrate the great achievements of our communities!
Last year’s winners were: Apex’s North Salem Street, Winston-Salem’s Fourth Street, Hendersonville’s Main Street as “Great Main Streets;” and Wilson’s Nash, Goldsboro, and Douglas Streets as a “Great Place in the Making.”
In the People’s Choice category, Morganton’s East and West Union Streets was selected as a “Great Main Street” and Burnsville’s Town Square as a “Great Public Place.”
“We were thrilled with the community support elicited by last year’s ‘Great Places in North Carolina’ initiative,” said John Morck, president of APA-NC. “As planners, we know that our state is filled with many wonderful places to celebrate so we are excited to see which great places North Carolinians nominate this year.”
About The North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association:
The North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association is an organization of 1,500 professional and citizen planners dedicated to preserving and creating great places throughout North Carolina. Visit apa-nc.org.
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