Published on: Wed, 10/17/2007 - 11:57
The American Planning Association (APA) has selected ten Great Neighborhoods and ten Great Streets through the Great Places in American Program.
According to the APA: “Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work everyday. America’s truly great neighborhoods are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces.”
A central element of the Great Places are their historic and cultural resources. In its selection criteria, the APA looked for neighborhoods that retain, interpret, and use local history to help create a sense of place and streets that reflect the local culture or history. A number of the Great Places are locally or nationally registered historic districts.
No Saint Paul neighborhoods or streets were deemed great (a glaring oversight), but the APA Great Places Programs will continue to solicit suggestions for future Great Places awards. Visit the APA Great Places website to nominate your favorite Saint Paul neighborhoods or streets.
