The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association announced that Downtown Bryan has been designated a Great Neighborhood by the state chapter’s Great Places in Texas program. Great Places in Texas exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value. This year marks the second year of the Great Places in Texas program, which is modeled from the American Planning Association’s ongoing Great Places in America program.
“Historic Downtown Bryan has transformed itself from the vacant streets of Lyle Lovett’s 1990 music video “Trucks, Tortillas, and Tombstones” to a vibrant, exciting neighborhood following the 2001 Comprehensive Downtown Master Plan” said Lori Schwarz, AICP, chair of great places in Texas Selection Committee. “Bryan’s downtown now includes more than 50 restaurants, bars, and retail shops; mixed-use developments; and, cultural venues such as theaters and art galleries. In 2017 alone, the Downtown Bryan Association hosted more than 38 public events making this community not just a great place to live and work but also to visit and experience Bryan’s revitalized downtown.”
Through Great Places in Texas, the Texas Chapter of APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live every day, places that are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. Such places are defined by many characteristics, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
The five other Great Places in Texas designees for 2018 are:
- Downtown San Marcos - San Marcos
- Magnolia Avenue - Fort Worth
- Oval Park - McAllen
- Tyler Municipal Rose Garden - Tyler
- Suspension Bridge - Waco
Announcements will be made throughout the day on the Texas Chapter’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. For more information about the 2018 Great Places in Texas, as well as a list of the Great Places in America designees located in the state, visit www.greatplacesintexas.com.
The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning - physical, economic, and social - so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests, and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, and Shanghai, China. For more information, visit its website at www.planning.org.
