Old Town is an official nominee to become one of 10 “Great Neighborhoods,” an annual award from the American Planning Association’s (APA) “Great Places in America Program.” Launched in spring 2007, the program celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and good planning. Each year, APA designates 10 “Great Streets,” “Great Neighborhoods,” and “Great Public Spaces” that represent the gold standard for a sense of place, cultural, historical interest, community involvement and vision.

The result of a public-private partnership that has helped revitalize Wichita’s Core Area since the early 1990s, Old Town was anonymously nominated. The public-sector effort was led by former Mayor Bob Knight and late City Manager Chris Cherches.

“We are honored to be among the nominees,” John Schlegel, Director of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department, said. “City staff and developers formed a critical public-private partnership that transformed the nearly abandoned warehouse area in downtown Wichita into a thriving center of homes, businesses and attractions.”

If designated, Old Town, which has won previous awards, would receive greater national recognition. News of last year’s recipients reached an audience of 40 million people. The winners will be announced during the National Community Planning Month in October. The APA will present a certificate and a virtual plaque for each designee’s Web site. In the meantime, a video that was created for the review process and entitled “2008 Great Places in America: Old Town” will air on City7, or cable channel 7, and be available online at www.wichita.gov.

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