Central Section Planning Awards

The purpose of the APA California Central Section Awards Program is to encourage quality in planning and increase the public’s awareness of the planning profession through recognizing outstanding achievement in the planning field. Each year, the Section looks forward to honoring the most outstanding efforts in planning. The program honors innovative plans and projects, distinguished APA members, and lay contributors to planning and achievements of the Central Section. The geographic Central Section region is comprised of Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties.

We are always looking for outstanding planning projects, activities and individuals for the APACA Central Section Planning Awards. Is there a planning project that you believe deserves recognition? An individual or group that you believe deserves an Achievement Award for Excellence in Planning? A media article or program (newspaper, radio, TV, etc.) that demonstrates Excellence in Planning? Celebrate it now by applying for a Central Section Planning Award!

The Central Section of the American Planning Association, California Chapter, is pleased to announce the

2023 Call for Planning Award Nominations!

Submissions due by Friday, March 10, 2023

2023 Awards Program Policy, Categories and Process

2023 Awards Application

2023 Awards Call for Jurors

The Central Section of the

California Chapter of the American Planning Association

is pleased to announce the

2023 Planning Award Winners!

  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Best Practices Award of Excellence: to Stanislaus County and Interwest Consulting Group for the Stanislaus County Urban Pockets Study
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Comprehensive Planning Award of Excellence (Small Jurisdiction): to the City of Bishop, Alta Planning + Design, Inc., and Helix Environmental Planning for The Downtown Bishop Specific Plan & Mixed-Use Overlay
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Economic Planning and Development Award of Excellence: to the City of Taft and RICK Planning + Design for the Downtown Taft Specific Plan and Zoning Ordinance Update
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Innovation in Resilience and Sustainability Award of Excellence: Mariposa County for the Merced River Trail Vision Plan
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Public Outreach Award of Excellence: to the City of Fresno, CityThinkers, ENP, and Jackson CDC for the Kings Canyon TOD Study Zines
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Transportation Planning Award of Excellence: to the Fresno Council of Governments for the 2022 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)
  • Leadership and Service – Emerging Planning and Design Firm Award of Excellence: to Interwest Consulting Group, Inc.
  • Central Section Activity Award of Excellence: to the City of Mammoth Lakes and the Central Section of CA APA for the Mammoth Lakes Field Trip
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Comprehensive Planning Award of Merit (Small Jurisdiction): to the City of Madera, Fagundes Dairies and Farms/Links Ranch, and Precision Civil Engineering for the Villages at Almond Grove
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Innovation in Resilience and Sustainability Award of Merit: to the Fresno Council of Governments and LSA for the Fresno COG SB 743 Implementation Regional Guidelines
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Best Practices Award of Merit: to the Fresno Council of Governments, Valley REAP, and Sigala Inc. for the San Joaquin Valley Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Valleywide Planning Program
  • Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Innovation in Resilience and Sustainability Award of Merit: to Tuolumne County, Ascent, and Kearns & West for the Tuolumne County Climate Action Plan

Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Comprehensive Planning; Small Jurisdiction Category:

To the City of Los Banos and QK, Inc. for the “Los Banos Parks Master Plan”

Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Opportunity and Empowerment Category:

To the Town of Mammoth Lakes and The Pacific Company for the “2021 Parcel Master Plan”

Excellence and Achievement in Planning – Best Practices Category:

To Mariposa County and Design Workshop for the “Mariposa County Recreation and Resiliency Plan”

Interested in APA State or National Awards?

Check out the links below for information:

California Chapter Awards – 2023 Applications are scheduled for submission on May 15, 2023
National Awards