The American Planning Association (APA) today announced that Fremont in Seattle, Washington has earned the designation as one of the 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2014 and Rainier Vista has earned the designation as one of 10 Great Public Spaces for 2014.

Each October during National Community Planning Month, APA’s Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that add value to communities and foster economic growth and jobs. APA’s Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods, and Great Public Spaces feature unique and authentic characteristics that have evolved from years of thoughtful and deliberate planning by residents, community leaders, and planners.

"Recognizing these special places highlights the role planning plays in adding value to communities," said William Anderson, FAICP, president of APA. "Planners, working with others, help build better communities in a variety of settings, from urban to rural; the result - better neighborhoods, cities, and regions. We applaud these efforts and congratulate this year’s designees."

Since Great Places in America was launched in 2007, APA has designated 230 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces. Places are announced annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.

New this year, APA is seeking input from the public for the “31st Great Place Designee.” Interested citizens can nominate their Great Place by commenting on APA’s Facebook page or via Twitter using hashtag #mygreatplace. The “31st Great Place Designee” will be announced on Friday, October 31, 2014.

FREMONT in SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe,” Fremont in Seattle, Washington, is a 215-acre urban village located along the canal that links Lake Union to Salmon Bay. The neighborhood supports maritime and local industrial activities and maintains a distinct identity through its diverse range of local entrepreneurs. Fremont residents have nurtured a vibrant artistic atmosphere, perhaps most evident by the annual Solstice parade, a gathering of streaking, body-painted, costumed bicycle riders. Fremont is also home to tech-intensive tenants such as Adobe, Google and Tableau, as well as the original Red Hook Brewery. Fremont's history dates back to the turn of the century, but its current vibe stems from the influx of students, bohemians and artists during the 1960s. The Fremont Neighborhood Plan was developed in 1999 to improve the neighborhood’s character as it grows, including concepts such as a Mosaic urban design strategy, public view protection, street traffic safety measures and greater public involvement in future developments. Click here to learn more.

RAINIER VISTA in SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Mount Rainier Vista and Montlake Triangle in Seattle, Washington, links the University of Washington, Red Square with Mount Rainier located 60 miles away. Framed by grand evergreen trees and campus buildings, the vista is heavily used by pedestrians moving about campus or arriving and departing from the surrounding Metro bus stops. Originally designed as open space by John C. Olmsted in 1915, Lower Vista features a large lawn flanked on either side by evergreen trees that provide a distinct framed view of the mountains. Just north is Sciences Quadrangle, which features Drumheller Fountain and Frosh Pond, a defining element of the Vista landscape. Upper Vista features collegiate gothic architecture lining both edges, a large lawn in the center divided by a central, wide asphalt path, and twelve Shirofugen flowering cherry trees gifted from Japan in 2014 to symbolize the 120 year history of Japanese and Japanese American students at the University. Future plans for Montlake Triangle include tree grove restoration, continuing the lawn, pathways and multimodel connections. To learn more click here.

In addition to Fremont and Rainier Vista in Seattle, Washington being designated a Great Neighborhood and Great Public Space respectively, the following nine other neighborhoods and nine other public spaces were also recognized:

NEIGHBORHOODS

ADAMS MORGAN in WASHINGTON, D.C.

Adams Morgan is a vibrant neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C., known for its historic row houses, lively nightlife and cultural diversity. To lean more click here.

ARBOR HILL in ALBANY, NEW YORK

Home to three historic districts, Arbor Hill in Albany, New York has a number of historic buildings scattered throughout its hill-top neighborhood, including structures from the war hero Henry Johnson and the Stephen and Harriet Myers House for the Underground Railroad. Click here to learn more.

CENTRAL WEST END in ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

The 112-block Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, features a European-vibe that includes sidewalk cafes, restaurants, boutiques, museums, and popular visitor attractions between Forest Park and the University of St. Louis. Click here to learn more.

FIELDS CORNER in DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Fields Corner in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, is home to a large Vietnamese-American population that influences the array of cultural shops and restaurants along its commercial corridor. Click here to learn more.

THE FAN DISTRICT in RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
The Fan, a neighborhood adjacent to downtown Richmond, Virginia with one of the largest collections of intact Victorian homes from the early 20th Century, gets its name from the way certain streets physically fan westward from Monroe Park to the Boulevard. Click here to learn more.

GREATER BELHAVEN in JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

The eclectic mix of architecture in the two historic neighborhoods that comprise Greater Belhaven stems from the early 20th century, when wealthy business owners built mansions and encouraged their employees and civic servants to build cottages and bungalows nearby, often offering personal financial assistance. Click here to learn more.

LA ALMA/LINCOLN PARK in DENVER, COLORADO

La Alma/Lincoln Park in Denver, Colorado, is a mixed-use neighborhood at the heart of Denver well-known for its Hispanic and Latino heritage. Click here to learn more.

UPTOWN in OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Uptown in Oakland, California, has experienced significant revitalization over the last 15 years. Already home to numerous historic performance venues, the neighborhood has seen many underutilized lots transform into an arts and entertainment district. Click here to learn more.

VICTORIAN DISTRICT in SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Immediately south of Savannah, Georgia's National Landmark Historic District is its Victorian District, a downtown neighborhood developed in the second half of the 19th century as a streetcar suburb of the original city. Click here to learn more.

PUBLIC SPACES

BAYLISS PARK in COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the geographic and symbolic “town square” for the community. To learn more click here.

CLIFF WALK in NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island, which attracts upwards of 1 million visitors annually, re-opened to the public in 2014 following a restoration process as a result of Hurricane Sandy. To learn more click here.

DELAWARE PARK in BUFFALO, NEW YORK

Delaware Park, a 350-acre park in Buffalo, New York, was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1870. To learn more click here.

GREAT PLAINS TRAILS NETWORK in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

The Great Plains Trails Network in Lincoln, Nebraska, a 131-mile trail network connecting parks, schools, commercial areas, colleges and universities, swimming pools, and major ball parks, has made Lincoln the 4th ranked city for bike commuting in the Midwest in comparison to cities with comparable populations. To learn more click here.

LAKE MIRROR PARK in LAKELAND, FLORIDA

Lake Mirror Park in Lakeland, Florida, is the centerpiece and crown jewel of the city's downtown area, hosting at least 18 major events each year that attract more than 170,000 people to community celebrations. To learn more click here.

LITHIA PARK in ASHLAND, OREGON

Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon, is a 93-acre park that traces its roots to the discovery of a lithia water spring in the early days of the 20th Century. To learn more click here.

POINT STATE PARK in PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

The Master Plan for the 36-acre Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was completed last year thanks to a seven-year Point State Park Capital Renovation Project. To learn more click here.

READING TERMINAL MARKET IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

One of the most famous enclosed public markets in the world, Reading Terminal Market is a collection of 76 locally-based merchants spread across 1.7 acres in a complex of buildings below the Reading Terminal Train Station. Click here to learn more.

THE LAWN at THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA in CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

Designed by President Thomas Jefferson, The Lawn at the University of Virginia (UVA) is surrounded by residential and academic buildings, gardens, and at its focal point is the Rotunda, the most recognizable symbol of the University. Click here to learn more.

For more information about these neighborhoods and public spaces, as well as APA’s top 10 Great Streets for 2014 and previous years, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.

For more about National Community Planning Month taking place throughout October visit www.planning.org/ncpm.

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. APA 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., and Chicago. For more information, visit www.planning.org.