Chapter Awards Nominations

Eligibility

Open to APA members and nonmembers. The effort must have been published, adopted, or completed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025. Published drafts and incomplete efforts are not eligible. The effort must help create an Oklahoma community of lasting value. Eligible nominations may include regulations and codes, tax policies or initiatives, design guidelines, public-private partnerships, handbooks, technology applications, participation efforts, and grassroots initiatives that use a planning process to address a specific community need or issue.

Criteria

An explanation of one to two pages addressing each criterion below, in the order listed.

1. Originality and innovation. Document how the entry uses new ideas or presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address specific needs. Explain how planning principles were observed, especially when considering the entry's effects on other public objectives.
2. Effectiveness and results. State how the entry addressed the need or problem that prompted its initiation. Explain how the results make a difference in the lives of affected people now and in the future. Show how the entry increased understanding of planning principles and the planning process. Provide measurable results when possible or appropriate.
3. Participation. Explain how various public interests were involved, the extent of that involvement, and how the entry obtained public and private support. Competitive entries demonstrate a strong effort to solicit input from people who historically have been left out of the planning process. Clarify the role, significance, and participation of planners, and connect the effort's success to increased community awareness of planners and planning.

The package folder must include

• ✓One-page summary
• ✓Criteria narrative (one to two pages)Addressing each criterion in the order listed.
• ✓One to three letters of supportOne page each, from someone familiar with the nomination other than the nominator, staff or consultant.
• ✓The project document as a single PDFCombine a long document or series of plans into one file.
• ✓JPEG images with a caption list (optional)Up to 10 high-resolution JPEGs, plus a document listing each image filename and a brief caption.

Eligibility

Open to APA members and nonmembers. The plan must have been published, adopted, or completed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025. Published drafts are not eligible. Eligible Oklahoma plans include comprehensive, neighborhood, corridor, smart growth, transportation, small town or rural, economic development, environmental, and other plans.

Criteria

An explanation of one to two pages addressing each criterion below, in the order listed.

1. Originality and innovation. Document how the entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how the use of the planning process broadened accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.
2. Engagement. Explain how various public interests were involved and the extent of that involvement. Competitive entries demonstrate a strong effort to solicit input from people who historically have been left out of the planning process. Show how the nominated plan obtained public and private support.
3. Role of planners. Clarify the role, significance, and participation of planners. Demonstrate the connection between the effort's success and increased community awareness of planners and planning.
4. Implementation. Address the steps taken to build momentum and public support for following and implementing the plan.
5. Effectiveness. State how the entry addressed the need or problem that prompted its initiation. Explain how the results have made a difference in the lives of affected people and the level of effectiveness the entry can have over time.

The package folder must include

• ✓One-page summary
• ✓Criteria narrative (one to two pages)Addressing each criterion in the order listed.
• ✓One to three letters of supportOne page each, from someone familiar with the nomination other than the nominator, staff or consultant.
• ✓The plan as a single PDFCombine a long document or series of plans into one file.
• ✓JPEG images with a caption list (optional)Up to 10 high-resolution JPEGs, plus a document listing each image filename and a brief caption.

Eligibility

Eligible nominees include engaged citizens who demonstrate outstanding leadership in a community, region, or the state; members of planning commissions, boards of appeals, economic development boards, environmental or historic preservation boards, commissions, or committees; other appointed officials; elected officials serving at the local, regional, or state level; citizen activists; and neighborhood leaders.

Criteria

An explanation of one to two pages addressing each criterion below, in the order listed.

1. Originality and innovation. Document how the individual's contribution goes beyond the day-to-day routine and has initiated new ideas, programs, plans, or other efforts.
2. Effectiveness and results. State how the individual advanced the visibility and understanding of planning and had a positive impact in the community, region, or state.

The package folder must include

• ✓One-page resume of the nominee
• ✓Criteria narrative (one to two pages)Addressing each criterion in the order listed.
• ✓One to three letters of supportOne page each, from someone familiar with the nomination other than the nominator, staff or consultant.
• ✓At least one JPEG image of the nomineeUp to 10 high-resolution JPEGs in total.
• ✓Image caption listA document listing each image filename and a brief caption.

Eligibility

Nominations may be submitted by faculty, an individual student, or a student group in a planning program or course in Oklahoma. Papers, projects, or research must have been completed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025.

Criteria

An explanation of one to two pages addressing each criterion below, in the order listed.

1. Innovative. Shows originality of concept or an appreciable refinement of existing techniques or procedures.
2. Transferable. Has potential application to other locations, projects, or areas of planning interest.
3. Quality. Demonstrates excellence of thought, analysis, writing, graphics, and presentation.
4. Implementation. Shows effectiveness because proposals have been carried out, show promise of being carried out, or demonstrate an effective implementation technique.
5. Comprehensive. Observes planning principles, especially when considering the project's effects on other public objectives.

The package folder must include

• ✓One-page summary
• ✓Criteria narrative (one to two pages)Addressing each criterion in the order listed.
• ✓One to three letters of supportOne page each, from someone familiar with the nomination other than the nominator, staff or consultant.
• ✓The project or paper as a single PDF
• ✓JPEG images with a caption list (optional)Up to 10 high-resolution JPEGs, plus a document listing each image filename and a brief caption.

Eligibility

The nomination must identify the public space, its Oklahoma community, and its boundaries. The narrative should explain how the space demonstrates the characteristics below.

Characteristics

A narrative of up to two pages addressing each characteristic below.

1. Livable Built Environment. Supports community quality of life by creating a space in which the elements of the built environment, including land use, transportation, housing, energy, and infrastructure, work together for the benefit of community members.
2. Harmony with Nature. Recognizes the value of natural systems and responds to the space's natural setting.
3. Resilient Economy. Builds the community's capacity to respond to changing economic circumstances by providing a hub for community connections and economic activity.
4. Interwoven Equity. Is treasured by the entire community and serves a diverse population's need for safe and healthy recreation and community.
5. Healthy Community. Contributes to community health by providing safe and healthy access to physical activity, recreation, and community cultural events.
6. Responsible Regionalism. Connects with and is compatible with surrounding land uses, public spaces, and the community as a whole.
7. Authentic Participation. Reflects the desires of all segments of the community and was designed through a planning process that involved a broad cross-section of community members in analyzing issues, generating visions, developing plans, and monitoring outcomes.

The package folder must include

• ✓One-page place storyThe place's story and why it merits designation.
• ✓Characteristics narrative (up to two pages)Addressing each characteristic below.
• ✓Up to 10 JPEG images with a caption listHigh-resolution images showing the space's outstanding qualities, plus a document listing each image filename and a brief caption.