For a comprehensive plan, or a separate plan that addresses a specific area such as a neighborhood, downtown, corridor, redevelopment area, or critical and sensitive area, or a specific topic such as transportation, housing, economic development, community facilities, parks and open space, or hazards mitigation; with an emphasis on plans that advance the science and art of planning.

2023 Nomination Form

Eligibility

Open to APA members and non-APA members. There are no limits on the size of jurisdiction.

Criteria

Originality and Innovation

Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how it broadens accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.

Transferability

Illustrate how the nominated plan, implementation strategy, or planning process has potential application for others and how wider use of the entry’s components and methodology would further the cause of good planning.

Quality

Indicate how your entry represents excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the plan, implementation strategy, or planning process, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful, well-
conceived, and ethical process.

Comprehensiveness

Specify how your entry observed planning principles, especially in consideration of its effects on other public objectives.

Public Participation

Explain the extent to which your entry involved various public interests and fostered strong communication to help meet goals and objectives. Show how the nominated plan,
implementation strategy, or planning process demonstrates a strong effort to obtain or maintain public and private support, including: input from those who historically have not participated in or have been left out of the planning process; participation of the widest variety of residents and stakeholders; and engagement and commitment of community leaders and local officials. For the planning process award, elaborate on how strategic partnerships or alliances were developed in support of the planning effort.

Role of Planners

Describe the role, significance, and participation of planners. Demonstrate the connection between your entry’s success and increased awareness in the community of planners and planning.

Implementation Strategy and Funding

Address what steps your entry took or is taking to build or maintain momentum and public support for creating, following, and implementing the plan. Identify funding challenges or support for the planning effort. Report any political changes that might effect, for better or worse, long-term funding for updating or implementing the plan, including continued public participation.

Effectiveness, Results, and Sustained Improvement

State how your entry addressed the need or issue that prompted its initiation. Be explicit about how the results have made a difference in the lives of the people affected. For the plan implementation award, indicate the level of consistency of this effort since its start and the effectiveness it can have over time. Detail any changes, derailments, or improvements throughout plan implementation.

For an initiative, program, or project that illustrates how a community uses citizen participation and the planning process to create a plan or realize an implementation strategy under the traditional scope of planning, or to address a need extending beyond the traditional scope of planning in new or different settings; with an emphasis on the involvement of people in the creation and management of their built and natural environments.

2023 Nomination Form

Eligibility

Open to APA members and non-APA members. There are no limits on the size of jurisdiction.

Criteria

Originality and Innovation

Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how it broadens accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.

Transferability

Illustrate how the nominated plan, implementation strategy, or planning process has potential application for others and how wider use of the entry’s components and methodology would further the cause of good planning.

Quality

Indicate how your entry represents excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the plan, implementation strategy, or planning process, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful, well- conceived, and ethical process.

Comprehensiveness

Specify how your entry observed planning principles, especially in consideration of its effects on other public objectives.

Public Participation

Explain the extent to which your entry involved various public interests and fostered strong communication to help meet goals and objectives. Show how the nominated plan, implementation strategy, or planning process demonstrates a strong effort to obtain or maintain public and private support, including: input from those who historically have not participated in or have been left out of the planning process; participation of the widest variety of residents and stakeholders; and engagement and commitment of community leaders and local officials. For the planning process award, elaborate on how strategic partnerships or alliances were developed in support of the planning effort.

Role of Planners

Describe the role, significance, and participation of planners. Demonstrate the connection between your entry’s success and increased awareness in the community of planners and planning.

Implementation Strategy and Funding

Address what steps your entry took or is taking to build or maintain momentum and public support for creating, following, and implementing the plan. Identify funding challenges or support for the planning effort. Report any political changes that might effect, for better or worse, long-term funding for updating or implementing the plan, including continued public participation.

Effectiveness, Results, and Sustained Improvement

State how your entry addressed the need or issue that prompted its initiation. Be explicit about how the results have made a difference in the lives of the people affected. For the plan implementation award, indicate the level of consistency of this effort since its start and the effectiveness it can have over time. Detail any changes, derailments, or improvements throughout plan implementation.

For a planning technology, program, project, or tool, such as a land development regulation, incentive, financial initiative, or similar measure, that is ensuring the realization of proposals advanced in a plan and accomplishing positive change with medium- to long-term, measurable results through continuous effect for a minimum of four years.

2023 Nomination Form

Eligibility

Open to APA members and non-APA members. There are no limits on the size of jurisdiction.

Criteria

Originality and Innovation

Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how it broadens accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.

Transferability

Illustrate how the nominated plan, implementation strategy, or planning process has potential application for others and how wider use of the entry’s components and methodology would further the cause of good planning.

Quality

Indicate how your entry represents excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the plan, implementation strategy, or planning process, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful, well-
conceived, and ethical process.

Comprehensiveness

Specify how your entry observed planning principles, especially in consideration of its effects on other public objectives.

Public Participation

Explain the extent to which your entry involved various public interests and fostered strong communication to help meet goals and objectives. Show how the nominated plan,
implementation strategy, or planning process demonstrates a strong effort to obtain or maintain public and private support, including: input from those who historically have not participated in or have been left out of the planning process; participation of the widest variety of residents and stakeholders; and engagement and commitment of community leaders and local officials. For the planning process award, elaborate on how strategic partnerships or alliances were developed in support of the planning effort.

Role of Planners

Describe the role, significance, and participation of planners. Demonstrate the connection between your entry’s success and increased awareness in the community of planners and planning.

Implementation Strategy and Funding

Address what steps your entry took or is taking to build or maintain momentum and public support for creating, following, and implementing the plan. Identify funding challenges or support for the planning effort. Report any political changes that might effect, for better or worse, long-term funding for updating or implementing the plan, including continued public participation.

Effectiveness, Results, and Sustained Improvement

State how your entry addressed the need or issue that prompted its initiation. Be explicit about how the results have made a difference in the lives of the people affected. For the plan implementation award, indicate the level of consistency of this effort since its start and the effectiveness it can have over time. Detail any changes, derailments, or improvements throughout plan implementation.

For an individual, program, or project that uses information and advocates education about the value of planning to create greater awareness among citizens or the public and inspire interest and participation in planning

2023 Nomination Form

Eligibility

Open to APA and non-APA members

Criteria

Originality and innovation

Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how it broadens accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.

Transferability

Illustrate how your entry has potential application for others and how widespread application would be in the interest of the planning profession and would further the cause of good planning.

Quality

Indicate how your entry represents excellence of thought, analysis, writing, graphics, and overall presentation, mindful of the targeted audience and regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful, well-conceived, and ethical process.

Comprehensiveness

Specify how your entry observed planning principles, especially in consideration of its effects on public objectives.

Effectiveness and Results

State how your entry addressed the need or problem that prompted its initiation; be explicit about how the results have made a difference in the lives of the people affected. Describe the extent that your entry has been effective in formulating and implementing plans and ideas in support of good planning. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee within different segments of the community; provide measurable results if possible or appropriate (for example, pre- or post-outreach effort poll results).

Education and Public Participation

Establish how your entry has engaged persons in planning and influenced public awareness and understanding of planning beyond those persons immediately affected. Describe how your entry encouraged community leaders to revise their opinions about the varied uses and broad applications of planning. Show how your entry has increased the understanding of planning principles, the planning process, and the role of planners. Explain how the results have been measured and internalized.

Examples: Engaged citizens, citizen activists, or neighborhood leaders demonstrating outstanding leadership in a community, region, or state; members of planning commissions or advisory boards; boards of appeal, economic development boards, environmental or historic preservation boards, or other appointed officials; elected officials holding office at the local, regional, or state level; broad community efforts showing how planning can make a difference, curricula designed to teach children about planning, neighborhood empowerment programs, use of technology to expand public participation in planning.

For an outstanding class project or paper by a student or group of students in a planning or related program that embodies good planning practice or applied research and contributes to advances in planning.

The APA-Louisiana Student Project Award recognizes outstanding class projects or papers by a student or group of students and intends to recognize exceptional work that advances the field of urban planning, work primarily by the student(s) with minimal, appropriate guidance by faculty. It is subject to the following eligibility and criteria:

2023 Nomination Form

Eligibility

A paper or project completed within the previous three years from a student or group of students in a Louisiana university urban planning program, or a related program such as architecture, landscape architecture, geography, environmental sciences, or public policy, may receive this award one time in one of three categories: 1) contribution of urban planning to contemporary issues, or how the related field supported planning’s contribution to contemporary issues; 2) application of the planning process; and 3) applied research that supports urban planning. A program may submit only one nomination. A nomination from a program related to urban planning must clearly demonstrate its application to and support for urban planning. If a student holds an elected or appointed office in national or Louisiana Chapter APA, her or his work or the work of the group in which s(he) participated is not eligible during the student’s term of service. A nomination for this award may be submitted by either: 1) the head of the Louisiana university division that contains the urban planning or related program; or (2) the duly elected or appointed Planning Student Organization (PSO) Student Representative of the Louisiana university planning program.

Criteria

Originality and innovation

Originality of concept or appreciable refinement of existing techniques or procedures

Transferability

Potential application to other locations, projects, or areas of planning interest

Quality

Excellence of thought, analysis, writing, graphics, and character of presentation

Implementation

Proposals of the paper or project have been carried out, show promise of being carried out, or demonstrate an effective implementation technique Comprehensiveness. The paper or project observes planning principles, especially in considering effects on public objectives.

For a professional planner who earns or has earned their living in planning, who contributes significantly to the advancement of planning practice or academic education over a sustained period through exemplary leadership and substantial accomplishments, as a credit to the American Planning Association

Eligibility

Individuals may not self-nominate and must earn or have earned their living in planning as professional planners or over a sustained period of time as a planning educator in a PAB accredited program. Open only to APA members in good standing.

Criteria

Support of planning and planners

Illustrate how the nominee’s work has increased the understanding of the planning profession and planning process. Indicate how the nominee has shown support for and a thorough knowledge and clear understanding of the role of planners in public life.

Collaboration

Describe how the nominee has developed or fostered strategic partnerships or alliances to help meet planning goals and objectives, change the working dynamic, and expand the support for planning.

Effectiveness, Results, and Influence

Describe the extent that the nominee has been effective in formulating and implementing plans, programs, projects, technologies, and ideas in support of good planning. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee within different segments of the community. Demonstrate the nominee’s positive influence on the direction and professional advancement of planning.

Ethical Practice

Show how your nominee consistently upholds and champions the highest standards of professional ethics in terms of the public trust and guides and educates staff, students, stakeholders, or colleagues on the importance of high ethical practice.

From time to time special awards are bestowed upon exemplary individuals who demonstrate exceptional expertise in their professional practice as evidenced by their body of work or service. These include the Lifetime Achievement Award and the APA-LA President's Award. There is no formal application process for these awards. They are determined solely at the descretion of the Chapter President.

Recipients

(Recipients will be listed here.)

Achievement Award for Enriching a Community's Quality of Life

For an individual, elected or appointed official, group, or organization that promotes planning through sustained commitment to a project, program or plan; addresses community concerns through special actions or significant contributions to planning initiatives; or demonstrates exceptional collaboration with diverse interests to improve a community’s quality of life. Honors the late Francis "Frank" Keevers for his contributions to improving the quality of life of a community through civic and business endeavors. Frank served as the President of our organization at the time of its split from Texas to form APA Louisiana Chapter.

Eligibility

Individuals to be honored may not self-nominate and must not earn or have earned their living in planning as a professional planner. Open only to non-APA members.

Criteria

Support of planning

Illustrate how the nominee’s work has increased the understanding of the planning process. Indicate how the nominee has shown a clear understanding of, and support for, the role of planning in improving a community’s quality of life.

Collaboration

Describe how the nominee has developed or fostered strategic partnerships or alliances to help meet planning goals and objectives.

Effectiveness, Results, and Influence

Describe the extent that the nominee has been effective in formulating and implementing plans, programs, projects, technologies, and ideas in support of improved quality of life. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee within different segments of the community. Demonstrate your nominee’s positive influence on the advancement of planning.

Social and Economic Concerns

Explain how the nominee’s efforts have addressed not only a community’s physical realm, but also its social and economic or civic and business concerns and issues. Describe how the nominee’s efforts have improved a community’s overall quality of life.

This initiative, sponsored by the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA LA), celebrates Great Places in Louisiana and the communities that sustain them. We seek to identify neighborhoods, streets and public places which exemplify local character, quality, and excellent planning. This program is modeled after APA's Great Places in America recognition program.
APA LA is focusing on those unique, memorable places that work not only for their community but draw outsiders in and are models for others to emulate.
The Great Places in Louisiana Award is an annual selection of places that represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow.

What Makes a Great Place?

We all can think of a place that is unique or memorable, but what elements make it truly great? There are many characteristics that make a place special.  A Great Place:

• Promotes human contact and social activities.
• Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users.
• Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
• Promotes community involvement.
• Reflects the local culture or history.
• Relates well to bordering uses.
• Is well maintained.
• Has a unique or special character.

Nominating a neighborhood, street, or public space for Great Places in Louisiana designation is easy.  First, check to make sure that place hasn't received recognition already from APA's Great Places in America or APA-LA's Great Places in Louisiana awards programs. If not, simply complete and return the application (link below,) along with supporting information such as photos and relevant metrics or descriptive narrative to the Chapter's Public Information Officer by the application deadline. 

• APA National Great Places

APA Louisiana Great Places

2014
Great Place – Downtown Houma
Great Place – Downtown Baton Rouge
Great Place – New Orleans City Park

2015
Great Neighborhood – City of Covington Historical Downtown Neighborhood

2016
Great Public Space – South River Road from Government Street to State Capital, Baton Rouge, LA

2017
Great Public Places – New Orleans Lakefront Airport Terminal Building
Great Street – Texas Street - 600 block of Texas Street to 200 block, Shreveport, LA

2018
Great Public Space – Parc Sans Souci, Lafayette, LA
Great Street – Historic Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA

2021
Great Neighborhood - Downtown Lafayette, LA
Great Public Space - City Park, New Orleans
Great Street – Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA

2022
Great Public Space - Frenchman Street Community Gardens, New Orleans, LA

Eligibility

The following eligibility requirements apply to all of the award categories except the Student Project Award, which is subject to separate requirements listed under the student project award section.

• With the exception of the Plan Implementation award category, any plan, project, program, tool, technology, process, report, or ordinance must have been published, implemented, or completed within three years of the date of submission.
• Any plan, project, program, tool, technology, process, report, or ordinance may only be entered in one award category per award year. No changes will be allowed by the nominator after the submission deadline. By unanimous vote, jurors may choose to move a nomination from the submitted category to a different category.
• Recipients of either Planning Achievement Awards are ineligible to receive the same award for 10 years after accepting it.
• Individuals may not self-nominate and only APA members may nominate individuals for the Achievement Award for Planning Leadership.
• Nominators may not be related by blood or marriage to any individual they want to nominate for awards for Planning Education or Advocacy, Leadership, or in Honor of Francis P. Keevers.
• Members of the Louisiana Chapter Awards Jury or officers of the APA Louisiana Chapter are not eligible to enter or receive individual awards during their terms.

General Requirements

• All of the nominations must be submitted through the appropriate form. Once the application has been filled out, you will receive instructions for electronically submitting nomination materials, along with directions to pay the entry fee (if required.)
• Communication with the P.I.O. or Jury Coordinator accepting the nomination materials is limited to technical issues of the submission process.
• Any communication with jurors on behalf of an entry is prohibited and is reason for disqualification.
• Entries received after the specified deadline date or lacking all required materials will not be considered.
• Materials associated with an award nomination will not be returned. Photo collages and PowerPoint presentations are not accepted as the submission, although persons associated with winning entries may be asked to submit additional information and materials including PowerPoint slides for the awards presentation ceremony.

Submission Requirements

• One-page summary of the entry; i.e., the plan, program, project, tool, technology, process, or in the case of an individual, a one page resume;
• One-page explanation of how the submission meets each of the stated criteria for each award;
• Three letters of support in accordance with these guidelines
  • Letters should be addressed to the Awards Jury;
  • Letters should offer support for the value of the nominated effort in terms of the criteria;
  • Letters may not be written by the nominator of the submission, by the nominated individual, or by anyone who directly worked on the project; instead written by a party outside the entrant team;
  • For the student project award, at least one letter of support must come from a faculty member and another letter must come from an LA-APA member;
  • If for a Project or Process, one letter must be from the Client or “project owner” and it must grant permission to the designated applicant to nominate the named project or process for an APA Louisiana award;
  • Comments from APA Louisiana Chapter Sections, Divisions, members, and other stakeholders involved with the subject of the nomination are encouraged.
• If the nomination is a plan, include a copy of the plan. (one hard copy will be required in addition to digital)
• Supporting materials including digital images, in accordance with these guidelines:
  • Images must not be copyrighted and must be reproducible without fee, charge, or copyright infringement;
  • Images should provide context, show the award nomination’s positive or intended outcomes, and supplement what exists in the written summary and criteria sections;
  • Images must be suitable for PowerPoint display;
  • Each image must be accompanied by a photo caption describing what is portrayed;
  • Please limit to ten (10) the digital images for each award nomination, although one recent photo of an individual nominated for an award must be included;
  • Supplemental materials to add support to the nomination may include media clips, brochures, posters, fact sheets, etc.;
  • Supplemental materials may be uploaded as digital files or linked by URL.​

Eligibility

The following eligibility requirements apply to all of the award categories except the Student Project Award, which is subject to separate requirements listed under the student project award section.

• With the exception of the Plan Implementation award category, any plan, project, program, tool, technology, process, report, or ordinance must have been published, implemented, or completed within three years of the date of submission.
• Any plan, project, program, tool, technology, process, report, or ordinance may only be entered in one award category per award year. No changes will be allowed by the nominator after the submission deadline. By unanimous vote, jurors may choose to move a nomination from the submitted category to a different category.
• Recipients of either Planning Achievement Awards are ineligible to receive the same award for 10 years after accepting it.
• Individuals may not self-nominate and only APA members may nominate individuals for the Achievement Award for Planning Leadership.
• Nominators may not be related by blood or marriage to any individual they want to nominate for awards for Planning Education or Advocacy, Leadership, or in Honor of Francis P. Keevers.
• Members of the Louisiana Chapter Awards Jury or officers of the APA Louisiana Chapter are not eligible to enter or receive individual awards during their terms.

General Requirements

• All of the nominations must be submitted through the appropriate form. Once the application has been filled out, you will receive instructions for electronically submitting nomination materials, along with directions to pay the entry fee (if required.)
• Communication with the P.I.O. or Jury Coordinator accepting the nomination materials is limited to technical issues of the submission process.
• Any communication with jurors on behalf of an entry is prohibited and is reason for disqualification.
• Entries received after the specified deadline date or lacking all required materials will not be considered.
• Materials associated with an award nomination will not be returned. Photo collages and PowerPoint presentations are not accepted as the submission, although persons associated with winning entries may be asked to submit additional information and materials including PowerPoint slides for the awards presentation ceremony.

Submission Requirements

• One-page summary of the entry; i.e., the plan, program, project, tool, technology, process, or in the case of an individual, a one page resume;
• One-page explanation of how the submission meets each of the stated criteria for each award;
• Three letters of support in accordance with these guidelines
  • Letters should be addressed to the Awards Jury;
  • Letters should offer support for the value of the nominated effort in terms of the criteria;
  • Letters may not be written by the nominator of the submission, by the nominated individual, or by anyone who directly worked on the project; instead written by a party outside the entrant team;
  • For the student project award, at least one letter of support must come from a faculty member and another letter must come from an LA-APA member;
  • If for a Project or Process, one letter must be from the Client or “project owner” and it must grant permission to the designated applicant to nominate the named project or process for an APA Louisiana award;
  • Comments from APA Louisiana Chapter Sections, Divisions, members, and other stakeholders involved with the subject of the nomination are encouraged.
• If the nomination is a plan, include a copy of the plan. (one hard copy will be required in addition to digital)
• Supporting materials including digital images, in accordance with these guidelines:
  • Images must not be copyrighted and must be reproducible without fee, charge, or copyright infringement;
  • Images should provide context, show the award nomination’s positive or intended outcomes, and supplement what exists in the written summary and criteria sections;
  • Images must be suitable for PowerPoint display;
  • Each image must be accompanied by a photo caption describing what is portrayed;
  • Please limit to ten (10) the digital images for each award nomination, although one recent photo of an individual nominated for an award must be included;
  • Supplemental materials to add support to the nomination may include media clips, brochures, posters, fact sheets, etc.;
  • Supplemental materials may be uploaded as digital files or linked by URL.
  • Any items not digitally submitted may be mailed to:

Submittal Fees

The submission fee is $50. Please enclose payment with your nomination application. No application fee is required for the Achievement Award for Enriching a Community’s Quality of Life in Honor of Francis P. Keevers, for the Student Project Award, or for Great Places in Louisiana nominations.