2015Project Awards Program

American Planning Association, Florida Chapter

APA Florida is pleased to announce the opening of its 2015 Project Awards Program application cycle. This program provides APA Florida the opportunity to recognize outstanding planning projects in the State of Floridaat its annual conference. The program provides APA Florida members with the chance to see and learn about development, conservation, government, or environmental projects, where planning has had a positive impact on the outcome. The Project Awards Committee will be looking for innovativeness and quality, and the potential for use in other areas.

Awards of Excellence and Merit

Eligible planning projects are those completed within the last two years in Florida. An awards application should be in electronic format on a CDand include a copy ofthe planning document and a completed application form. The APA Florida Chapter Office must receive an award application by Friday, April 24, 2015. (Student Project Award applications are due by May 8.) Incomplete applications or those not received in the APA Florida Chapter office by the deadlinewill not be considered. Space permitting, award recipients may have the opportunity to display their projects at the APA Florida Annual Conference in Hollywood, September8-11, 2015. The award recipients will be notified by early July of their selection. Those selected for an Award of Excellence will be requested to provide a short video for the awards ceremony. The Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit will be presented to the recipients at the opening morning session, Wednesday,September 9, 2015.

Nominations will be evaluated for the award category in which they are submitted. However, the Awards Committee may upon majority vote, move a nomination to a different category, if appropriate. Generally, only one Award of Excellence and one Award of Merit are granted per category each year. If the Awards Committee finds that none of the nominations in a particular category meets the desirable standards, they may opt not to grant an award in that category for that year. The jurors make the distinction between Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit based on several factors including scoring, innovation, superior quality, transferability, and other factors.

Projects must fall under one of the following sixcategories:

  1. Planning Project Awardfor a specific physical planning project of unusually high merit that is in the process of being constructed or has been constructed within the last two years. The project should demonstrate “on-the-ground” results that are supported by documentable physical or social change.

Examples include streetscape plans; public space plans; hospital, college or other campus plan.

  1. Comprehensive Plan Awardfor a comprehensive plan, or individual element, of unusually high merit completed and adopted by the public agency within the last two years for, by, or within a jurisdiction with the most recent BEBR official population estimate of 50,000 or more (Large Jurisdiction) or of less than 50,000 (Small Jurisdiction).
  1. Best Practices Awardfor a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan. Nominations may include such things as ordinances, regulations, legislation, adopted policy and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines, transferable development rights program, land acquisition efforts, public/private partnerships, applications of technology, handbooks, or efforts to foster greater participation in community planning.

Examples include regulations and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines, transferable development rights programs, land acquisition efforts, public-private partnerships, applications of technology, handbooks, or efforts that foster greater participation in community planning.

  1. Grassroots Initiative Awardfor an initiative that illustrates how a community utilized the planning process to address a need that extends beyond the traditional scope of planning. Emphasis is placed on the success of planning in new or different settings. Nominated projects should expand public understanding of the planning process. This could include such efforts as community policing or drug prevention, neighborhood outreach initiatives, programs designed for special populations, public art or cultural efforts, community festivals, environmental or conservation initiatives, summer recreational initiatives for children, or focused tourism ventures.
  1. Neighborhood Planning Awardfor a neighborhood plan, program, design, or related effort that demonstrates innovative planning principles and measures that creates sustainable neighborhoods that have lasting value.
  1. Outstanding Student Project Awardto recognize outstanding class projects or papers by a student or group of students in accredited planning programs in Florida that contribute to advances in the field of planning. While it is appropriate to submit a project or paper on which a faculty member(s) has given guidance, the submission should be primarily the work of the students.


General Submission Information

A Complete Award Package, submitted in electronic format on aCD to the APA Florida Chapter Office, must include the Following Documents:

  1. The planning document or project.
  1. Completed Annual Project Awards Application including:
  1. A brief description of the project, including the setting, time frame, significance to the planning field, innovations in theory, methodology and/or practice and other unique aspects to the application. (Max. 500 words)
  2. A project summary to be used for the award handout at the annual conference. (Max. 100 words)
  1. A brief discussion demonstrating how the project meets the following criteria (Max. 200 words each criterion):

Originality and Innovation – How does the entry present a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs? How does the use of the planning process in this context broadened accepted planning principles within the context of the situation?

Quality – How does the project represent excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics, regardless of budgetary limitations? How were available resources used in a thoughtful and ethicalprocess?

Transferability – How does the project have potential application for others and how does use of theentry’s components and methodology would further the cause of good planning?

Comprehensiveness – How have planning principles been observed, especially in consideration of the entry’s effects on other public objectives?

Implementation –(This is not a criterion for the Outstanding Student Project Award) What steps were taken to build momentum and public support for following and implementing the project?

Engagement - How were various public interests involved and what was the extent of that involvement? How does the project demonstrate a strong effort to solicit input from those whohistorically have been left out of the planning process? How were those affected brought into theplanning process? How did the project obtain public and private support?

Role of Planners – What was the role, significance and participation of planners? Was there a connection between the effort’s success and increased awareness in the community ofplanners and planning?

Effectiveness – How did the project address the need or problem that prompted its initiation? Howhave the results made a difference in the lives of people affected? What level of effectiveness hasthe project had over time?

Education - (This is a criterion for only the Grassroots Initiative Award) How has the project encouraged community leaders to revise their opinions about the varied uses and broad applicationsof the planning process? What influence has the project had on publicawareness beyond those immediately affected? What connection is there between the effort's success and increasedawareness in the community of planners and planning?

  1. Five (5) digital graphics or images (jpg format, color, 300 dpi minimum) which are copyright-free that illustrates the planning area or project that is being submitted. Submit only graphics or images that are not copyrighted and which may be reproduced by APA Florida without a fee, charge, or copyright infringement.

Images should provide context and show the award nomination’s positive or intended results.

  • Images should supplement what exists in the written summary and criteria sections.
  • Each image is limited to a maximum 1 megabyte (1 MB).
  • Each image must include a photo caption. Captions must be no more than 25 words each.
  • Photo collages and PowerPoint presentations are not acceptable.
  1. Up to five (5) one-page Letters of Support or Testimonials are encouraged, but not required in support of the application. Letter(s) should offer support for the value of the nominated effort. Letters may not be written by the nominator of the submission or by the nominated project author, client or group.
  1. Name, address, daytime telephone, email, and FAX numbers of the person(s) to contact regarding the application: project author(s), and project client.
  1. Application fee: $50 for APA Florida member/$75 Non-member, payable to APA Florida and mailed to the Florida Chapter at 2017 Delta Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Please notate the project name on the check.

A complete award packagemust be received by the APA Florida Chapter Office at the above address no later than 5:00 p.m.,Friday, April24, 2015(no exceptions).(Student Project Award applications are due by 5:00 p.m., May 8, 2015.) Please direct any questions about the awards program toAlex Magee at 850-201-3272 or .

American Planning Association

Florida Chapter

Annual Project Awards Application

It is imperative that all of the following information be provided in full. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Submit only one (1) project for one (1) award category per application. Please direct any questions about the awards program to Alex Magee at 850-201-3272 or

Mail complete award application entries including electronic versions of all materials and a check for the application fee payable to APA Florida Chapter. Please assure that the project name is on the check. Entries must be received by the Chapter Office, 2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 201, Tallahassee, Florida 32303 by5:00 PM, Friday, April 24, 2015 – no exceptions. (Student Project Award applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 8, 2015.) Materials received after this date will not be accepted and will not be returned.

Applicant Information

The Applicant will be considered the primary contact to the Chapter for all decisions made on this application and will work with APA Florida staff to obtain additional information and materials.

Name / Laura LaLiberte
Organization / Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency
Title / Architecture and Urban Design Coordinator
Address / 330 N. Federal Highway
City, State. Zip / Hollywood, FL 33020
Phone / E-mail / 954-924-2980 /

I certify that the submitted work was done by the parties credited in this Awards Application Form, and that the work meets the appropriate nomination submittal requirements listed herein.

Applicant’s Signature ______

Project Information

Project Name / Complete Streets Pop-up on Park(Ing) Day – Hollywood, FL
Author(s) / Laura LaLiberte, AIA, AICP and Kimberly Stefanski, AICP
Award Category / Planning Project Award
(circle one) / Comprehensive Plan Award (Large Jurisdiction) / Neighborhood Planning Award
Comprehensive Plan Award (Small Jurisdiction) / Best Practices Award
Grassroots Initiative Award / Outstanding Student Project Award
An electronic copy of the planning document or project must accompany this application.

Brief Description

Describe the setting, time frame, significance to the planning field, innovations in theory, methodology and/or practice and other unique aspects to the application. (Max. 500 words)

On September 19th, 2014, The Hollywood CRA coordinated a Complete Streets Demonstration in conjunction with International Park(ing) Day, an effort to transform parking spaces into temporary parks. The purpose of this project was to build community support for the complete streets initiative that had been adopted by the city commission. The event lasted from 9am to 4pm.
This project transformed one intersection (approx. 300 linear feet) along the FEC corridor, a potential complete streets corridor and Tri-Rail Coastal Link station location, into a temporary complete street including wide sidewalks with interactive street furniture, bulb-outs, parallel parking, and a protected bike lane. This allowed the community and elected officials to see, understand, and experience what a complete street feels like, and how this changes the pedestrian and bicycle experience.
To implement this temporary demonstration, staff was required to obtain a county MOT permit to close the right through lane of traffic, install temporary bike lane and bulb-out markings, and build “parklets” on elevated platforms that extended the sidewalk and usable pedestrian space. Each element was designed to be reusable both in the same location and other locations to build community support for this complete street project as well as others throughout the city.
To further engage the community, the CRA and city staff partnered with Barry University, whose satellite campus was adjacent to the project site. Health science students volunteered to give free blood pressure screenings, handed out sunscreen and pedometers, and gave presentations about healthy living. Additionally, a local yoga studio held yoga classes in the parklets, local artists and musicians performed, and local restaurants provided food.
A unique aspect of this project was the coordination with the effort of Park(ing) Day. This local event built on this annual international event to not only create parklets, but to demonstrate a full complete streets experience.
Our team consisted of Hollywood CRA staff, City staff from Parks and Recreation, Community and Economic Development, Parking, Public Affairs, and Public Works. Our local and regional partners included local restaurants and businesses, local artists, Barry University College of Health Sciences, SFRTA, and B-Cycle.

Project Summary

To be used for the award handout at the annual conference. (Max. 100 words)

The Hollywood CRA coordinated a complete streets demonstration in conjunction with International Park(ing) Day, an annual event to transform parking spaces into parks. The purpose of this project was to build community support for complete streets throughout the CRA districts. It transformed one intersection along the FEC corridor, a potential complete streets corridor and Tri-Rail Coastal Link station, into a temporary complete street including wide sidewalks, bulb-outs, parallel parking, and a protected bike lane. This allowed the community and elected officials to see, understand, and experience how a complete street feels and how it changes the pedestrian and bicycle experience.

Originality and Innovation

How does the entry present a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs? How does the use of the planning process in this context broaden accepted planning principles within the context of the situation? (Max. 200 words)

This project took the concept of Park(ing) Day and applied it to the entire street section. Park(ing) Day encourages the temporary transformation of parking spaces in creative and innovative ways. Not only did the project achieve this through the design of the parklets, but it further applied this concept to the street section, transforming the right through lane of traffic into parallel street parking and a protected bike lane with buffer.
In partnering with the Barry University Health Science department, the event catered towards an even larger population, and focused on not only the urban form of complete streets, but the public health aspect, as well. Since complete streets encourages all modes of transit including bicycles and pedestrians, partnering with health science students for community outreach brought even more awareness to the community about how complete streets can affect their everyday life and health.

Quality

How does the project represent excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics, regardless of budgetary limitations? How were available resources used in a thoughtful and ethical process? (Max. 200 words)

This event was a great example of utilizing resources through in-house staff and community partners. The Hollywood CRA staff partnered with many City departments to use as many in-house resources as possible, such as applying for the MOT permit with the City’s engineering department, setting up and tearing down the event with the City’s public works and parks and recreation departments, and marketing the event with the City’s public affairs and economic development departments. CRA staff worked with the Barry University health sciences student volunteers and their professors to staff the event and a local yoga studio gave free yoga classes during the event.
The marketing strategy for the event took a grassroots approach through social media, word of mouth through students, and door to door throughout the adjacent neighborhood. Staff also spoke with neighborhood and civic associations in the surrounding neighborhoods to publicize the event to their membership.

Transferability