Great Places Nomination Form

Great Places in Pennsylvania 2026 Nomination Form

Submit your nomination by June 5, 2026, to be considered for designation in 2026. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association is looking for Great Places in two categories: Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve and Great Public Space. Great Places are unique, memorable places that display a wealth of best practices in community planning and serve as models for other communities. They also have a true sense of place, cultural interest, community involvement, and a sustainable vision for tomorrow.

We want to hear your suggestions for a Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve or Great Public Space designation. Nominations will be considered by the Great Places in Pennsylvania Judges Committee with notification to applicants in the summer.

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Contact person/Name of Nominator(Required)
Address
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Nomination Category(Required)
[i.e. street address, municipality(ies), and county(ies)]
Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, Max. file size: 15 MB.
Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, Max. file size: 15 MB.

Please respond to the questions below to describe why the nominated Greenway/Trail or Preserve; Public Space; or Transformation is worthy of a Great Places in Pennsylvania Designation.

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Briefly describe the location of the Greenway/Trail or Preserve (urban area, suburb, exurban area - on fringe of metropolitan area, rural area) and provide the start/end points for a greenway/trail.

Public Space: Briefly describe the setting of the Public Space (urban, suburban, neighborhood, village, rural).

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe the variety of users and how the Greenway/Trail or Preserve encourages use by a diverse cross-section of the community or region..

Public Space: Describe how the Public Space is designed to contribute to the livable built environment (reflects the community’s character/personality, interesting visual experience, design/architecture is fitting).

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe the variety of users and how the Greenway/Trail or Preserve encourages use by a diverse cross-section of the community or region.

Public Space: Describe the unique qualities, traits, and characteristics that make the Public Space special, extraordinary, and/or memorable and set it apart from other public spaces.

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe the unique characteristics that set the Greenway/Trail or Preserve apart from other greenways/trails or preserves, such as connections to places of cultural/historical significance, incorporates interpretative signage, opportunities for environmental/public health education, and/or site for special programs or events.

Public Space: Describe how the Public Space promotes and accomplishes social interaction and community engagement, as well as fosters a sense of community. Also, describe the diversity of users.

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe the Greenway/Trail or Preserve’s resilient and sustainable qualities, such as maintenance without excessive costs, safety features, and/or use of green infrastructure.

Public Space: Describe how the Public Space contributes to the economy of the community. If possible, quantify the impact (# of visitors, types/number of events/ activities).

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe how the Greenway/Trail or Preserve contributes to the local/regional economy. If possible, quantify the impact (# of visitors, types and number of events/ activities).

Public Space: Describe the extent to which planners, partnerships, planning, and community involvement have played a role in the development and sustainability of the Public Space.

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

Greenway/Trail or Preserve: Describe the extent to which planners, partnerships, planning, and community involvement have played a role in the development and sustainability of the Greenway/Trail or Preserve.

Please be specific and use Category Criteria for guidance. (Maximum 200 words)

Criteria

A minimum of four photos is required; up to six are permitted; individual photo size cannot exceed 5 MB. Photos must demonstrate the qualities, characteristics, and social (people) interactions highlighted in the narrative. For transformations, include before and after pictures.

Drop files here or
Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, png, Max. file size: 5 MB, Max. files: 6.
    Additional supporting material (such as a newspaper article or video) should be directly related to the nominated place and relevant criteria, must be in a single pdf file, and cannot exceed 15 MB. Videos related to the nominated place and relevant criteria are also acceptable. The video must be less than 5 minutes in length, be uploaded to a website (such as YouTube), and have a specific website link. If submitting a video, provide the website link below.
    Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 15 MB.
    I am submitting a video, the website link is entered below.
    I agree to the following(Required)
    Nominators shall permit APA PA the use of all materials submitted in support of a nomination for purposes related to the Great Places in Pennsylvania program, including use in promotional materials.

    The Great Places in Pennsylvania team of knowledgeable and experienced judges will review nominations and designate the 2026 Great Places. (Nominators will be notified of the results by end of July)