RED BANK – The New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ) has named Downtown Red Bank a winner in the 2014 People’s Choice Awards for Great Downtowns in New Jersey.
A panel of planning professionals selected the contestants from nominations submitted by the public in July and invited the general public to select the downtown of their choice by voting online. Over the past five weeks, 11,421 members of the public voted and chose Red Bank over fellow nominees Asbury Park and Somerville.
“Red Bank has so much to offer. We have great art, theater, retail, restaurants and services for everyone. We have festivals and events that draw people from all over the tristate area and we have a picturesque downtown situated in a perfect spot along the beautiful Navesink River,” said James Scavone, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, which manages Red Bank’s downtown improvement district. “We are thrilled to win this award and we appreciate the APA’s efforts in creating awareness of downtowns and local economies.”
In a press release, the APA-NJ said, “In reviewing the nominations the panel considered how well each downtown excels in the characteristics of a great downtown, including how well it functions as the centerpiece in the everyday life of the community; its reputation for excellence beyond the immunity’s boundaries; its vitality during the day, in the evening and on weekends; accessible parking and transportation alternatives; and support from the community to attract, retain and grow businesses.”
“Great places happen because they are planned for and implemented by people who set high marks for themselves and their communities,” APA-NJ President Charles Latini, Jr. said. “They take hard work, planning and replanning as time stretches across political tenure, but all of them are places their citizens take pride in. The interest in voting reveals this pride.”
Linda E. Wills, AICP, APA-NJ Great Places chair, said, “What better way to pick the top downtowns than to hear from the people who know them?
“All of these downtowns offer inspiration to communities looking to make their own downtowns great. They have overcome many obstacles, and today, they reap the benefits from forging effective public and private partnerships and securing the investments needed to attract, retain and grow businesses,” Wills said.
Each winner will receive a plaque at a local award ceremony, a place on the map of Great Places in New Jersey at njplanning.org, and, of course, bragging rights.
To learn more about why Red Bank is one of New Jersey’s Great Places, visit www.redbank.org.
