2019 Chapter Awards

At its Annual Conference, the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized 16 winners at its 2019 Professional Awards Program.  The honorees include professional planners, an elected official, best planning practices, plan implementation, and comprehensive planning.

These awards recognize outstanding contributions to the field of city, town, and regional planning.  The Professional Awards program recognized outstanding submissions in the following areas:  comprehensive planning, implementation, public outreach, best practice, and distinguished leadership.

"The Upstate Chapter Awards Program has been a centerpiece of our Annual Conferences for years and once again we were thrilled to present our membership with 16 exemplary examples of recent projects completed by Chapter Members that are bringing about positive change and benefits for residents of Upstate New York,” said Mark Castiglione, AICP.  Castiglione is President of the New York Upstate Chapter and the American Planning Assocation.

“The Professional Awards celebrate the hard and rewarding work that our colleagues do each day,” said Sean Maguire, AICP.  Maguire, Vice President of the Chapter and Chair of the Awards Committee said that this year’s program is particularly exciting as it launches some changes that allow the association to focus more on recognizing outstanding work for its merits.  “We’re really pleased to highlight these projects and there is no better time to do so than at our conference and doubly so during National Community Planning Month.”

The projects and individual recognized include:

  • Comprehensive Planning

    • Tonawanda Opportunity Area

    • City of Lackawanna First Ward Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3 Final Implementation Plan

  • Implementation

    • Champlain Canalway Trail 2019 Action Plan

    • The Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF)

  • Public Outreach

    • Post-Flood Recovery Building Workshop for the Village of Sodus Point

  • Best Practice

    • Rain Check 2.0 Opportunity Report

    • Neighborhood Revitalization - Capital District (Outstanding Student Project)

    • Historic Stockade District Comprehensive Streetscape Plan

    • Saratoga Springs Natural Resource Inventory (Outstanding Student Project

    • Urban Design Report, City of Lakewood (Outstanding Student Project)

    • Bicycle & Pedestrian Trail Guide: 2019

    • “Are We There Yet?” From Mid-Century to the Next Century (Outstanding Student Project)

    • Erie County Climate Action and Sustainability Plan

  • Distinguished Leadership:  Elected/Government Official

    • James Sharpe, Grand Island

  • Distinguished Leadership:  Michael Krasner Professional Planner

    • Ellen Parker

  • Distinguished Leadership:  Upstate Fellow

    • Michael H. Long, AICP