APA Announces the 2015 'Great Places in America'

The APA's flagship program is back with its 2015 iteration—celebrating the best neighborhoods, public spaces, and streets in the United States.

1 minute read

October 2, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The American Planning Association (APA) "announced the country's 15 Great Places for 2015 through the organization’s national program, Great Places in America," according to a press release.

The Great Places in America program, launched in 2007, recognizes the best places in the country in the following three categories: neighborhoods, public spaces, and streets. One notable difference between this year's list and last: 2015 acknowledges 15 total great places, while the 2014 list acknowledged 30.

The APA's website includes details on each of the winners, along with a map and slideshow of images from each great place. The page also offers multiple access points to information past winners.

Without further ado, this year's winners:

2015 Great Neighborhoods

  • Crossroads Arts District, Kansas City, Mo.
  • Downtown Plano, Plano, Texas
  • Roosevelt Row, Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Wynwood, Miami, Fla.

2015 Great Public Spaces

  • Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif.
  • Flint Farmers' Market, Flint, Mich.
  • Hermann Park, Houston, Texas
  • Millennium Park, Chicago, Ill.
  • Santa Fe Railyard, Santa Fe, N.M.
  • Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, Colo.

2015 Great Streets

  • Third Street, McMinnville, Ore.
  • Fifth Street, Dayton, Ohio
  • Laura Street, Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Lexington Avenue, Asheville, N.C.
  • Olvera Street, Los Angeles, Calif.

Thursday, October 1, 2015 in American Planning Association

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘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.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Skating rink under freeway in Bentway park in Toronto, Canada.

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.

February 24, 2025 - The Globe and Mail

Adult holding young child facing away from camera looking at wind turbines sillhouetted against the sunset.

Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition

The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.

March 5 - USC Today

Bird's eye view of half full parking lot at night.

Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing

The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.

March 5 - Maui Now

Wide apartment building staircase with curved wrought iron handrail.

Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks

Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.

March 5 - CNU Public Square

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.