LA QUINTA — The city of La Quinta’s “Village Make” event has received an award of merit from the American Planning Association Inland Empire Section, under the Transportation Planning category during its 2018 award cycle.
The Village Make event was held on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. It showcased La Quinta’s Village as a designated healthy eating, active living, “HEAL” city thus making a commitment to promote health and wellness. La Quinta also has pedestrian friendly bike lanes throughout the city, along with popular walking and hiking paths.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Inland Empire Section of the American Planning Association for the 2017 Village Make event that engaged residents and businesses in making the La Quinta Village into a more walkable and bikeable destination,” said Gabriel Perez, Planning Manager for the city of La Quinta.
Village Make transformed the streets of La Quinta Village as places that are safer and more enjoyable to walk, bike, skate and roll. It showcased pop up features like creative art installations, repurposed alleyways, artsy traffic circles, and cut-through walking paths at this sidewalk festival. Folks were encouraged to meet at Village Make for free music, raffles, art, activities, family fun and more.
The Transportation Planning category award honors efforts to increase transportation choices for all populations, reducing dependence on private automobiles and helping to ease congestion and reducing climate change impacts. Applications were reviewed on their planning and innovation, computability, engagement, and effectiveness and results.
The American Planning Association (APA) is a non-profit professional research organization committed to urban, suburban, regional, and rural planning. The organization has 46 chapters which generally correspond to state boundaries and is further subdivided into regional sections. This section is one of eight in California and covers Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Inland Empire Section (IES) of the American Planning Association has over 500 members, representing the public, private, and academic sectors.
