Celebrate some of North Carolina’s great places
We know North Carolina is filled with great places: both natural landscapes and cultural and historic treasures, from main streets to parks to neighborhoods. Here’s your chance to suggest places that deserve public recognition and celebration. The N.C. Chapter of the American Planning Association wants nominations from the public for Great Main Street and Great Public Place.
From now through March 24, the APA-NC is seeking nominations from the general public. (Update, March 21: The deadline has been extended until March 28.)
Want to know more?More information: www.greatplacesnc.org Concord and Davidson Main Streets named ‘Great Places’ in 2013 |
This year, in addition to the People’s Choice online contest for a great Main Street, the association has added an online People’s Choice award for Great Public Place. “Think parks, town squares and other outdoor places,” the website advises.
The awards celebrate the great places “and the planners, business leaders, elected officials and everyone else who creates and sustains them,” the organization’s website says.
As in previous years, the public can vote online for People’s Choice awards, from April 9-May 9.
Among places that won Great Places awards in 2012 and 2013 are Asheville, Blowing Rock, Concord, Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia.
In addition, members of the APA-NC can also nominate great Main Streets and a “great place in the making.” An expert panel will choose the winners on those categories. (Disclosure: PlanCharlotte director Mary Newsom will be a member of that panel.)
Members of the public who aren’t members of APA-NC can suggest nominations in those categories by contacting their city or town planners or planning board members.
Why bother? Because, the planners’ association says, North Carolina is full of amazing places, which many people work hard to create, sustain, and improve. The contest is a chance to celebrate the communities’ achievements. Winning communities can use their Great Place status in grant applications and economic development efforts. Finally, the group says, the communities receive statewide publicity, get to speak at the APA-NC state conference, receive a special public relations event “and of course get bragging rights.”