Awards and Recognition
Fostering Sustainability and Innovation
Project Cities has garnered significant awards and recognition for its innovative approach to urban sustainability and community engagement. By fostering collaboration between local governments, universities, and community stakeholders, Project Cities has successfully addressed complex urban challenges through interdisciplinary solutions. The program has been celebrated for impacting sustainable development, earning accolades from environmental organizations and academic institutions. These recognitions underscore the program’s excellence in driving positive change and serving as a model for other cities aiming to implement sustainable practices.
2022 President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness
In 2022, Project Cities was awarded the President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness, recognizing recipients for designing and facilitating new models for positive university-community collaborations. Michael Crow said Project Cities is a prime example of social embeddedness as it is a collaboration among the creativity and minds of students, faculty, and partners across the state, nation, and globe.
Student Awards
Community Reimagined: Town of Miami’s Downtown Revitalization Strategy
Students participating in the MUEP Planning Workshop collaborated with the Town of Miami to create a playbook for the revitalization of Main Street, starting from the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum at the west end of Main Street and ending at the YMCA building at the east end. It includes a convention hotel geared toward the mining industry; an enhanced pedestrian walking experience; light poles, benches and signage; a local brewery; a swimming pool, public basketball courts and a public park.
City of Chandler Sustainable Park Maintenance & Development Strategy
Students applied a range of environmentally sound planning skills to develop a hands-on playbook, which included extensive site visits, data analysis of City-provided water usage data, expert interviews, and comparative case analyses. At the end of the course, the team presented their work to the City of Chandler. The students created a useful, high-quality product that will help shape Chandler’s future parks strategy, demonstrating a high degree of professionalism, innovation, and applied solutions. Their efforts were student-led and produced, showcasing sophistication in planning techniques and a commitment to best practices.
Preliminary Housing Analysis and ADU Policy Recommendations for Peoria, AZ
In 2021, students participating in a project with the City of Peoria were awarded the AZ American Planning Association (APA) Best Student Planning Project for their report, Preliminary Housing Analysis and ADU Policy Recommendations for Peoria, AZ. In collaboration with ASU’s Project Cities, the students worked with Peoria’s Departments of Planning and Community Development and Neighborhood and Human Services to research two affordable housing challenges in Peoria: a needs assessment and a policy strategy for accessory dwelling unit ordinances.
Design Principles and Guidelines for the Town of Clarkdale’s Downtown District and 89A Commercial Corridor
For their work, the class was recently recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) Arizona Chapter as the winner of the Honorable Mention Award in the Student Planning Project Category at the APA Arizona annual conference.
Mobile Home Parks & the Future of Affordable Housing in Apache Junction
In 2019, Maggie Dellow was awarded the AZ American Planning Association (APA) Best Student Planning Project for her project, Mobile Home Parks & the Future of Affordable Housing in Apache Junction. In collaboration with ASU’s Project Cities, Maggie worked with the City of Apache Junction to research affordable housing opportunities in Apache Junction, primarily focusing on revitalizing the City’s mobile home parks.