2025 Pennsylvania Great Places
Congratulations to the 2025 Great Places in PA Award Winners!
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA) is proud to announce the 2025 Great Places in PA. Great Places are unique, memorable places that display a wealth of best practices in community planning, serve as a community focal point, and strengthen the local economy. They also demonstrate the rewarding results that occur through planning, partnerships, and community engagement.
For 2025, the categories were Great Greenways/Trails or Preserves, Great Public Spaces, and Great Transformations. Five Great Places were designated; four in the Public Spaces category and one in the Greenways/Trails or Preserves category. There are now 64 designated “Great Places in PA,” located in 35 of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties. Additionally, designated Great Places can be found in each of the Chapter’s six sections.
In recognizing the 2025 Great Places, APA PA also celebrates the many community leaders, officials, professionals, and residents who contributed to making these places “great.” A special thank-you is also extended to the dedicated panel of judges that volunteer their time to review and rate the nominations, as well as select the Great Places.
Consider adding PA’s “Great Places” to your list of places to visit. More information about the 2025 Great Places and previously designated Great Places is available on the Chapter website (www.planningpa.org).
Stay tuned for the opportunity to nominate Great Places in 2026. It’s not too early to start thinking about great places to nominate in your community.
Great Public Spaces
A Great Public Space is a vibrant place that fosters a sense of community through people of all ages and abilities gathering to play, socialize, enjoy a meal or concert, relax, or just enjoy the outdoors. It is a focal point for community events, which bring people together and bolster the economy. Below are the 2025 Great Public Spaces.
Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve
A Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve is land set aside to preserve/protect open space, scenic landscapes, historical resources, natural resources, and/or plant/animal habitats. They can be found in urban, suburban, and rural settings. More specifically, a Greenway/Trail is a linear corridor of open space that provides linkages to connect people to parks, schools, downtowns, places of employment, pristine natural areas, and/or historical structures and features. A Preserve is a protected area that is mostly undeveloped and open to the public. Passive recreation opportunities, such as walking/hiking trails, hunting, and fishing, are managed to ensure the health and integrity of the natural environment. Below are the 2025 Great Public Spaces. An overview of the 2025 Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve is provided below.