2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Booklet

2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Cover — Download the 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Booklet (PDF). Photo courtesy of EPA.

Through the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, EPA recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to strengthen their economies, provide housing and transportation choices, develop in ways that bring benefits to a wide range of residents, and protect the environment.

The 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Booklet includes:

A message from the EPA Administrator
How smart growth protects the environment
About the award
Descriptions and photographs of each award winner
Continuing achievements of past award winners

The winners are:

Overall Excellence

Amish horse and buggy traveling along a country road with a farm in the distance — Lancaster County's growth management and nationally ranked farmland preservation programs help preserve the agricultural economy, rural character, and unique culture of the area. Photo courtesy of award winner.

Envision Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan and Implementation
Lancaster County Planning Commission, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

To maintain the character of the county, as well as its diverse economy and natural resources, for future generations, the Lancaster County Planning Commission established a regional, countywide comprehensive growth management plan, which protects its valuable farmland and historic landscapes by strategically directing development to established towns and cities in the county.

Watch the video.

Policies and Regulations

street with sidewalk, bus lane, lighting, and planted strips along street — The effect of the Urban Street Design Guidelines is apparent on Elizabeth Avenue, where people, cars, and buses coexist and attractive tree-planting is accommodated. Photo courtesy of Abby Hall.

The City of Charlotte
Charlotte Department of Transportation, Charlotte, North Carolina

As the central city in a rapidly growing metropolitan area, Charlotte is under intense development pressures. Rather than continue the automobile-dominated development patterns of the last 50 years, Charlotte adopted Urban Street Design Guidelines to make walking, bicycling, and transit more appealing and make the city more attractive and sustainable.

For an update on this project, see the 2010 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement booklet.

Watch the video.

Built Projects

Internal greenways and playgrounds provide safe, visible play areas, while pedestrian paths create easy routes between residences and the surrounding parks, community facilities, and commercial development. Photo courtesy of award winner.

Parkside of Old Town
Chicago Housing Authority, FitzGerald Associates Architects, and Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

Parkside of Old Town sits on eight city blocks that were once home to a public housing complex notorious for criminal activity. The redevelopment has transformed the neighborhood by reconnecting it to downtown Chicago and creating mixed-income housing, parks, and new shops and restaurants.

Watch the video.

Smart Growth and Green Building

Tempe Transportation Center
City of Tempe and Architekton + Otak, Tempe, Arizona

The Tempe Transportation Center is a model for sustainable design, a vibrant, mixed-use regional transportation hub that also incorporates innovative and beautiful green building elements tailored to the Southwest desert environment.

Watch the video.

2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Booklet (pdf)