The American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter (APA-IL) is proud to announce the 2017 APA-IL Award Winners. These outstanding planning efforts from across the state exemplify the practice of urban planning and each stand as an example of ways our members are “Making Great Communities Happen”. Congratulations to all!

Daniel Burnham Award:

The Yorkville Plan- A comprehensive plan that utilized scenario planning to right-size a city that never grew to meet optimistic population projections.

Best Practice:

Downtown Rockford Strategic Action Plan- Check out Downtown Rockford’s “TLC: Tactical, Lean, Climax” approach for action when your community has years of past plans but hasn’t been able to kickstart implementation. Be sure to also check out the companion booklet which uses the Downtown Strategic Action Plan as a case study and provides step-by-step guidance on how to apply the “TLC” principles in other neighborhoods in Rockford, and elsewhere.

Community Outreach Award:

Wicker Park Bucktown Master Plan- A best practice in how to conduct a master plan update packed with great ideas for outside-the-box engagement.

Community Outreach Award:

Envision Oak Park provided meaningful opportunities for residents to contribute directly to the plan. For example, groups of resident experts developed implementation metrics on topics uniquely relevant to the community.

Implementation Award:

Argyle Shared Street- a fully constructed example of a traffic calming- chicane where pedestrians, bikes, and cars coexist on a shared street– with added benefits of sustainable stormwater design best practices.

Strategic Plan Award:

MWRD Robbins Master Plan- This inspiring plan identifies green-infrastructure solutions in the chronically flooded community of Robbins that saves homes and revitalizes the Village’s economy.

Strategic Plan Award:

Arts Block Master Plan- Compelling plan graphics provide the community with inspiration how to combine an arts mission with neighborhood redevelopment, even if the results are different from how the pictures look.

Sustainability Award:

Carbondale Bicycle Master Plan- A bike master plan with implemented results including over seven miles of new bike lanes, a multiuse trail connecting two community anchors (SIU campus and downtown), and other amenities like public bike repair stations.

Student Award:

Vision for a New Lawrence- A thorough examination of the existing conditions and vision for the future of Lawrence Avenue in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, including an impressive analysis on how changing densities will impact the community.

Award winning plans will be recognized at the 2017 APA-IL State Conference, Chapter Awards Program, at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, September 13th at Hotel Indigo, 120 Water St, Naperville, IL.

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