Awards Program

2024 Award Winners

The Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-IL) is pleased to announce the 2024 project award recipients. The Chapter received a total of 24 nominations for outstanding examples of planning in Illinois. Congratulations to all who are recognized for their hard work, which seeks to advance the planning profession in Illinois!

2024 Service Award winners will be announced at the APA-IL's 2024 State Conference.

North Chicago Comprehensive Plan - Plan Comprensivo Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan Read Bio	Jasper Street Great Streets Great Neighborhoods Roadmap Strategic Plan Read Bio
One Howard Street Economic Recovery Plan Strategic Plan Read Bio	Civic Innovation Hub Best Practice Read Bio
Build Up Cook Advancing Diversity & Social Change Read Bio	Village of Homewood Transit-Oriented Development Plan Healthy & Active Community Read Bio
Think Like A City: A Framework Plan for Remaking Places Student Project Read Bio

2023 Service Award Winners

Coming Soon!

Award News

06/07/2024 Call for 2024 APA-IL Awards Program Nominations! The APA-IL is now accepting nominations for our 2024 Awards Program! Each year, the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association recognizes the best in planning across Illinois, celebrating those that exemplify tremendous planning efforts and outstanding achievements in innovation. Read More

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09/21/2023 2023 APA-IL Service Awards Announced! Congratulations to the 2023 APA-IL Service Award Winners! The following outstanding individuals were honored during the Awards Ceremony at the 2022 APA-IL State Conference on Wednesday, September 29th. Read More

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Award Archives

Past Chapter Award Winners
For awards prior to 2010, please click here for a list of past award winners. ​

PROJECT AWARDS

Daniel Burnham Award for Outstanding Comprehensive Plan
2023 - We Will Chicago: A framework plan for the city's future
2022 - West Chicago Forward/Adelante
2021 - Libertyville 2030 Comprehensive Plan
2020 - Your Future Frankfort Comprehensive Plan
2019 - ON TO 2050
2018 - Town of Normal Comprehensive Plan 2040
2017 - The Yorkville Plan
2016 - Ottawa Comprehensive Plan
2016 - City of Zion Comprehensive Plan
2015 - Bring it On Bloomington: City of Bloomington Comprehensive Plan
2014 - Imagine Belleville
2013 - Illinois Transportation Plan
2012 - Village of Downers Grove 2030 Comprehensive Plan
2011 - Champaign Tomorrow: 2011 Comprehensive Plan
2010 - Village of Villa Park Comprehensive Plan
2010 - McHenry County 2030 Comprehensive Plan
2010 - City of Carbondale Comprehensive Plan ​

Advancing Diversity and Social Change Award
2023 - POP! Heights Park
2023 - Logan Square Blue Line TOD Development Action Plan
2022 - Hedge POP! Park
2021 - PopCourts! ​

Best Practice Award
2023 - Chicago Recovery Plan: Operationalizing Equitable Grant-Making
2022 - 1212 Larkin
2021 - Woodstock Age-Friendly Livable Community Plan
2020 - Matteson Streetscape Improvement Plan
2019 - Fox River Corridor Plan
2018 - City of Champaign Parking Requirement Elimination
2017 - Downtown Rockford Strategic Action Plan
2016 - Regenerate Chicago Neighborhoods
2015 - Tri County Fiscal Impact Calculator
2014 - Columbia Community Preservation Plan 2014
2013 - South Suburban Retail Investment Study
2012 - Complete Street, Complete Networks: A Manual for the Design of Active Transportation
2011 - Chicago Park District Lakefront Trails Counts
2011 - Naperville Historic Preservation Initiative
2010 - Downtown Naperville Pedestrian Gap Analysis
2010 - Planning Mapper
2009 - City of Naperville Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Report

Community Outreach Award
2021 - “Care About the Count”: North Central IL 2020 Census Campaign Under Pandemic
2020 - Bloomington and Normal Consolidated Plans
2019 - North Lawndale Quality-of-Life Plan
2018 - Elmhurst Park District Vision 2020
2017 - Envision Oak Park
2017 - Wicker Park Bucktown Master Plan
2016 - Belmont Cragin Quality of Life Plan
2015 - The Cairo Comprehensive Plan
2014 - Remediation and Redevelopment Project for La Huerta Roots & Rays
2013 - A Vision for Division
2012 - Rockford Choice Neighborhoods Plan: Neighborhood Planning Handbook
2011 - Lakeview Area Master Plan
2010 - Master Plan for Wicker Park/Bucktown SSA ​

Implementation Award
2019 - Fountain Square Plaza
2018 - Great Rivers Chicago
2018 - Illinois Tollway SmartRoad & Pace I-90 Market Expansion Program Collaboration
2017 - Argyle Shared Street
2015 - Near North Quality of Life Plan and Design Guidelines
2014 - Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan
2013 - Chicago Heights Active Transportation Plan
2012 - Modern Schools Across Chicago
2011 - Bartlett Town Center Redevelopment Plan
2011 - Smart Communities in Chicago: Master Plan and Neighborhood Plan
2010 - Spring Creek Greenway Master Plan
2010 - Village of Round Lake Beach Lakefront Park ​

Strategic Plan Award
2023 - Soul City Corridor, Chicago Avenue Development Framework Plan (plan website)
2023 - Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line Extension (RLE) Transit-Supportive Development (TSD) Plan
2022 - Alton Great Streets
2022 - Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region
2021 - Oak Brook Reserve
2020 - Urbana Park District Strategic Plan 2020
2019 - Wild Mile
2019 - North River Communities Neighborhood Plan
2018 - Auburn Gresham & Englewood Quality of Life Planning
2017 - Arts Block Master Plan
2017 - MWRD Robbins Master Plan
2016 - The Winnetka Lakefront Plan
2016 - Positioning Pullman
2016 - Chinatown Community Vision Plan
2015 - Wisconsin Avenue Business Corridor Plan: Rethinking Wisconsin Avenue
2014 - Moline Centered: Riverfront Neighborhoods Comprehensive Plan Update
2013 - Prairie Grove Town Center and Transit Oriented Development Plan
2012 - McHenry County Green Infrastructure Plan
2011 - Lombard Downtown Plan
2011 - Manhattan Village Center Master Plan
2010 - 2009 Legacy Plan Downtown Tinley Park
2010 - Village of Montgomery TOD Plan and Park and Ride Location Study
2010 - Village of River Forest Corridors Plan ​

Sustainability Award
2017 - Carbondale Bicycle Master Plan
2016 - The Talking Farm
2015 - Urbana Sustainable Water Management Plan
2015 - Bristol Place LEED-ND Master Plan
2014 - Champaign Growing Greener
2013 - Growing Greener: Forest Park Sustainability Plan
2012 - Stearns Road Bridge Corridor
2011 - Sustainable Decatur ​

Healthy Active Community Award
2022 - Illinois Veterans’ Home Quincy Campus Master Plan
2021 - Northern Lakeshore Trail Connectivity Plan
2020 - Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan: A Strategy for the Forest Preserves of Cook County
2019 - BikeConnect HOI: Heart of Illinois Regional Bike Plan
2018 - Healthy Chicago 2.0 ​

Historic Exploration Award
2023 - Adventures in Stockton: Placemaking Initiative (initiative website)
2022 - Uncover Antioch ​

Student Project Award
2023 - Chicago’s New Nature: An Ecological Override Plan
2022 - 35th Street Reimagined: Codesigning Neighborhood Improvements with McKinley Park Neighbors (UIC)
2021 - Connecting People to Power: South Shore Energy Plan (UIC)
2020 - Village of Dolton Comprehensive Plan
2019 - Downtown Viola Plan
2018 - UIC Plan Making Studio
2017 - Vision for a New Lawrence, Michael Sewall (UIC)
2016 - Washington Square Commercial Historic District - Marcia Klopf (UIUC)
2015 - Plaza and Urban Life - Pablo Penades Lopez (UIC)
2014 - Post-War Emergency Planning in Homs, Syria - Makek Abdulsamad
2013 - Elmwood Park Diversey Avenue Plan
2012 - Knoxville Main Street - Eli Cosky (UIUC) ​

SERVICE AWARDS

Distinguished Service
2023 - Brandon Nolin, FAICP
2022 - Paula Freeze
2021 - Laurie Marston, FAICP
2020 - Marcella Bondie Keenan
2019 - Mark Koplin, AICP
2018 - Rob Olshansky, FAICP
2018 - Elizabeth "Libby" Tyler, FAICP
2017 - Lee Brown, FAICP
2016 - John Paige, AICP
2016 - David Silverman, AICP
2015 - Rob Kowalski, AICP
2014 - Philip Dick, AICP
2012 - Chaddick Institute (with special recognition to Michael Blue, FAICP and Laurie Marston, FAICP)
2012 - Jim Peters, FAICP
2009 - Ty Warner, AICP
2007 - Ellen Shubart
2006 - Sam Santell
2006 - Bruce Knight, FAICP (in appreciation of his leadership role with the APA-IL)
2006 - Shawn Christ, AICP (in appreciation of his webmaster role with the APA-IL)
2006 - Robert Ahlberg, AICP (in appreciation of his dedicated service to the APA-IL)
2005 - Karen Stonehouse, AICP
2004 - Robert Sullivan
2003 - John C. Pettigrew
2002 - Grace Bazylewski ​

Planning Advocate
2022 - Shermann 'Dilla' Thomas
2020 - Tonika Johnson
2019 - Karen Kreis
2018 - Mark Peterson
2017 - John Lobaito
2015 - Stan Cain
2014 - Gloria Crowder ​

Emerging Planner Award
2023 - Reema Abi-Akar
2022 - Jasmine Gunn
2021 - Cristen Hardin
2021 - Phillip Green
2020 - Jane Wilberding, AICP
2019 - Vitaliy Vladimirov
2018 - Paola Aguirre
2017 - Katanya Raby-Henry
2016 - Ben LeRoy
2014 - Emily Fultz, AICP ​ ​

Most Valuable Planner Award
TBD

Past Awards Announcements

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