10,000 Friends Accepting Applications for the 2015 Commonwealth Awards

We are pleased to announce that 10,000 Friends is once again presenting its signature program, the Commonwealth Awards, to honor and celebrate great development projects and the people who make them happen.  Through the Commonwealth Awards, 10,000 Friends recognizes leading development projects that utilize best practices that promote smart growth, sustainability, green space and walkable communities.  We are now accepting project applications for consideration for this year’s awards.  We welcome and encourage applications from developers, architects, designers, planners and public and private institutions that have significant projects that may be underway or completed.    

In recent years we’ve recognized an array of great projects from mixed-use, residential, commercial, industrial, public infrastructure/green space, schools and other community institutions, and municipal planning projects. A panel of jurors from across a range of relevant professional disciplines will be enlisted to judge the project submissions.  The panel reviews projects utilizing metrics based on sound land use principles and smart growth principles.  The Commonwealth Awards remain the only statewide smart growth award program in Pennsylvania.  

• Click on this link to access instructions and guidelines for submitting your proposals.

At this year’s event (which will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 5:00 at the Lancaster Mariott at Penn Square in downtown Lancaster), we will also be recognizing the top community transportation projects undertaken by municipalities from across the Commonwealth.  Recognizing that our land is a finite asset and wishing to put a spotlight on communities that demonstrate leadership and innovation, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania created the “Community Transportation Excellence Award.” This award goes to community transportation projects that demonstrate the importance of community transportation in creating healthy, sustainable communities. 

In the coming weeks, we will confirm the date and venue for this year’s event.