The American Planning Association has released its annual list of the country's 10 great neighborhoods, 10 great streets, and 10 great public spaces.
Representing the "gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow," the designees recognized by the APA's flagship program "offer better choices for where and how people work and live."
Selected from entries submitted by contributors, the 30 places recognized by the APA, are judged by criteria including "architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement."
FULL STORY: Great Places

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‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.

Spirit Lake Nation Reclaims 680 Acres After Century-Long Effort
After decades of advocacy, the Spirit Lake Nation successfully reclaimed 680 acres of its original treaty land from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marking a significant step toward healing and future development.

Bourbon Street Could Be a Model for Pedestrian Spaces
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Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing
Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.
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North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research