According to the American Planning Association (APA), a “Great Place” in your community demonstrates the importance of planning, provides an opportunity for promotion and tourism, and illustrates how local policies and projects strengthen our communities.
These “Great Places” often highlight Age-Friendly activities and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages communities to make a suggestion online to the APA by April 17 if their city, town or neighborhood meets the criteria. Last year, Lowell’s Canalway Cultural District and the Village of Shelburne Falls made the 2018 list from Massachusetts.
Suggesting a Great Place is simple. First, check to see if the location you’re nominating is already a Great Place. Next, get to know what characteristics make a place stand out.
Great Neighborhoods, Great Streets, and Great Public Spaces come in many forms, but they all have characteristics that are grounded in good planning practices. Review the characteristics on this website to see which are part of your place’s story.