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Great Places. You know them when you see them — but how do they become great? All the decisions we make influence the quality of our neighborhoods, streets, and public spaces. Great Places in AmericaAPA's flagship program celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America's truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Suggest a Great Place NowKnow of a Street, Neighborhood or Public Space you think merits designation as a Great Place in America? Suggest it today! Suggestions received through February 26, 2009, will be considered for Great Places in America designation in 2009. 2008 Great Places in AmericaGreat NeighborhoodsBaltimore, Maryland Salem, Massachusetts Sheridan, Wyoming Los Angeles, California Denver, Colorado Syracuse, New York Boise, Idaho Wichita, Kansas Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mariemont, Ohio Great StreetsYbor City, Tampa, Florida Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Arlington, Virginia Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards Portland, Maine Annapolis, Maryland Tempe, Arizona El Paso, Texas St. Paul, Minnesota Boston, Massachusetts Louisville, Kentucky Great Public SpacesNew York City, New York Burlington, Vermont Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Portland, Oregon Santa Monica, California Washington, D.C. Charleston, South Carolina Providence, Rhode Island Cleveland, Ohio Prescott, Arizona What Makes a Great Place? Probably we all can think of a street, neighborhood, or public place that is unique or memorable, but what makes it special? What elements combine to produce a place that not only works for people in the community but rises far above the ordinary? APA's selection guidelines will be considered in addition to other important factors such as geography, population, demographics, and setting (urban, suburban, rural). Consider these guidelines not as a checklist of "must-haves," but rather as important principles from which we will base our judgments. Characteristics and Guidelines of Great Streets ![]() 2007Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Washington, D.C. Buffalo, New York Lake Oswego, Oregon San Diego, California San Francisco, California Austin, Texas Brooklyn, New York Seattle, Washington Urbana, Illinois ![]() 2007Savannah, Georgia Santa Fe, New Mexico University City and St Louis, Missouri Northampton, Massachusetts Richmond, Virginia Chicago, Illinois Miami Beach, Florida New York, New York New Orleans, Louisiana Salt Lake City, Utah | ||