Public encouraged to vote online through Oct. 21
Downtown Sarasota is one of five finalists for the Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award presented by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), the City of Sarasota has announced.
The top Great Place in the Sunshine State will be decided by the public via online voting at www.FloridaPlanning.org, a news release points out.
Voting is open through Friday, Oct. 21, the release adds.
The Florida Chapter of the APA, a professional organization that promotes excellence in urban planning, received a record-breaking 37 submissions this year, the release notes. An APA committee selected the finalists on the basis of criteria that included the following, the release continues: The nominee supports a good safe quality of life, promotes community involvement, offers a sense of place, contributes to the economic well-being of the surrounding area, promotes cultural and historical interests, and is welcoming for users.
“We’re proud to be selected by this professional planning organization as a finalist,” says Steve Stancel, chief planner of the City of Sarasota, “who coordinated with a group of enthusiastic City of Sarasota staff members to develop the award submission,” the release adds. “Recently, Downtown Sarasota was voted one of the most walkable areas in Florida,” he continues in the release. “With the diversity of cultural arts, public parks, historic buildings, shopping and dining all located within a short stroll to our beautiful Sarasota Bay, we believe Downtown Sarasota is a Great Place in Florida, and we hope online voters agree,” Stancel says in the release.
Three photos, plus long and short descriptions explaining why Downtown Sarasota is a Great Place in Florida, were required for the submission, the release notes. To read the short description click here.
The winner of the Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award will be announced Friday, Oct. 28 as the grand finale to National Community Planning Month, the release points out.