Definitions for Rules:
2025 RULES and GUIDELINES
• Entrant(s) – the person(s) or entity that nominated the Place.
• Place – the Place or Project nominated by Entrant which can be categorized as
• Theme – the annual award Theme. Finalists will move on to public voting (People’s Choice). See Theme Criteria for description of the selected theme.
All Entrants grant APA Florida the right to use all information related to the competition, including information on nominations obtained through the competition, for marketing purposes or any other purpose, unless prohibited by law. Entrants must hold all copyrights to images and videos being submitted or obtain a written permission from the image owner to submit with nomination. If an Entrant submits images and does not have the correct license for use, any fines levied upon APA Florida will be passed onto the Entrant By entering the contest, Entrant agrees to pay these fines, if levied.
Officers, employees, consultants, and agents of municipalities in which nominations are located are not eligible to serve as judges. All Selection Committee judges will be made public on the APA Florida chapter website.
APA Florida reserves the right to limit the number of Great Place finalists based on the quality of the nominations received. Each Place can only be identified as falling under one (1) category (For instance, City Riverwalk is either Public Space or Greenway/Trail). If multiple entries for the same Place are nominated by different Entrants, APA Florida will contact all Entrants to determine the most applicable category.
The Entrant for the Great Place designated, by acceptance of the designation, agrees to release APA Florida, its officers, employees, and agents from all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, or use of the Great Place designation.
Each application should include contact information for an official representative of the Place. This should be an individual with authority to coordinate receipt of the award with APA Florida. A press conference or award ceremony for the winner will not be the responsibility of APA Florida, however we will make every effort to coordinate such an event with the official representative and ensure that a representative of the organization is present to deliver the award if requested. Any images taken at the ceremony will be used for APA Florida marketing purposes. APA Florida is not responsible for acquiring consent of persons appearing in photos during the ceremony, especially if the ceremony is held in a public space.
CONTEST TIMELINE:
• Nomination period opens: June 9, 2025
• Nominations are due by: 5 pm ET on July 25, 2025
• Selection Committee will deliberate and announce finalists: Aug. 29, 2025
• People’s Choice Award voting runs: Sept. 1 – Sept 26, 2025
• Winner announced: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2025, to kick off National Community Planning Month
NOMINATION GUIDELINES
1. SHORT DESCRIPTION
Each Entrant must submit a short description of the Place not to exceed 150 words. It must describe the Place and what makes it great. If selected as a finalist, this description will be used in the People’s Choice Award voting ballot.
2. LONG DESCRIPTION
Each Entrant must submit a long description of the Place, not more than 1,000 words, that will be reviewed by the Judges to base their final selection. Be sure to identify:
• The responsible jurisdiction (city, county, etc.)
• Physical size or dimensions
• Clearly state the category (Street, Public Space, Greenway/Trail, or Downtown)
• Describe how the Place fits this year’s Theme (See Theme Criteria)
• Include additional details about the Place (special significance to the community, other recognitions received, etc.)
Remember these descriptions will be used by the Selection Committee in conjunction with the photos that you provide to help determine the finalists that will be posted for the public vote.
3. AWARD GUIDELINES & THEME CRITERIA and CATEGORIES
The Theme criteria below are provided below and must be addressed in the long description portion of the nomination packet:
This year’s theme, Great Places That Ground Us, invites nominations that reflect the deep connections between people, place, and shared identity. Whether through thoughtful infrastructure, cultural memory, or ongoing community stewardship, these are places that hold meaning not just for what they look like, but for how they make us feel.
From neighborhood parks and main street corridors to transit stops, trails, or plazas these are places that tell stories, honor culture, and create space for connection, care, and everyday belonging.
Theme Criteria Elements (select at least four) Element
Cultural Memory & Storytelling Does the place reflect community heritage or lived experience? Has it been shaped by or dedicated to those histories?
Stewardship & Placekeeping Is the place actively cared for by residents, groups, or intergenerational efforts?
Infrastructure with Meaning How has public infrastructure (lighting, benches, trails, transit, streets) contributed to a sense of welcome, safety, or identity?
Spaces of Everyday Belonging Does the place encourage organic gathering, rest, or reflection?
Intergenerational & Cultural Relevance Is it used by a mix of ages, backgrounds, or traditions?
Design for Connection Does the design (or redesign) prioritize gathering, slowing down, and connecting with others?
Oral history projects, murals, plaques, naming efforts
Clean-ups, gardening groups, informal park watches, programming
Community-designed Street elements, transit shelters with art, safe crossings near gathering points
Shaded areas, flexible seating, story circles, vendor zones
Senior benches near playgrounds, faith-based markets, language access
Front porch libraries, widened sidewalks, pedestrian plazas
The guidelines are provided below to help guide your description and we encourage you to use them if they apply. Please note that while descriptions are provided for four different categories of Places there is no set number of finalists per category, all categories will receive equal weight when looked at by the Selection Committee.
CATEGORIES
Neighborhood Parks
These are small to mid-sized public green spaces located within residential areas. They often serve as daily gathering spots for families, neighbors, and community members. Neighborhood parks may include playgrounds, walking paths, shaded seating, or open lawns, What makes them meaningful is not just their function, but the way they reflect the rhythms and rituals of the surrounding community.
Main Streets & Commercial Corridors
Main streets are the heart of local commerce and everyday interaction often lined with small businesses, food vendors, and services that reflect the neighborhood’s character. These corridors may be historic or newly revitalized, and can include sidewalks, storefronts, signage, and public art that speak to cultural identity. They are places where daily life, celebration, and protest often intersect, offering a sense of belonging and visibility to residents.
Transit Stops & Mobility Hubs
These are more than just places to catch a ride they are thresholds to daily routines, designed spaces that can invite safety, comfort, and even creativity. A well-used bus stop, train station, or bike hub can become a cultural landmark or community node, especially when residents shape it with seating, shade, murals, or messaging that reflects local stories and priorities.
Plazas & Public Squares
Plazas are open, often paved spaces designed for gathering, events, rest, or transit flow. They may be formal civic spaces or informal gathering zones between buildings or across intersections. Whether hosting farmers markets, community performances, or spontaneous conversation, plazas become meaningful when they invite connection, visibility, and shared use across generations and backgrounds.
Remember, the criteria above have been provided to help guide submittals; they are by no means the only items that can be mentioned in the description of the Place. The guidelines and criteria set the minimum expectations for Entrants and the Selection Committee.
4. MEDIA
• All Entrants must submit between four (4) to eight (8) high quality images that demonstrate the qualities or characteristics that you are trying to highlight in your Long Description narrative. Photos with people in them are preferred but not mandatory.
• Image file types accepted: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG,
• Image file size limit: 10 MB
• Each Entrant may, but is not required, submit one (1) video that highlights the Theme Criteria for the Place which you are nominating. You can upload the video into the Award entry system or provide a URL to a video on YouTube, Vimeo, or similar platform.
• Please review the Rules explanation of image usage and licensing.
