Mayor Eunice Ulloa and Council Member Curtis Burton were on hand at the annual American Planning Association Inland Empire Section (APA-IES) dinner on May 11 to accept the Excellence Award in Urban Design from the American Planning Association Inland Empire Section for the Chino Downtown Civic Center Master Plan.
Each year the APA-IES selects from a variety of categories ranging from unique and exceptional projects and developments to individuals that have contributed to the planning community. Chino’s project ranked highly on the Urban Design category criteria that included community engagement, originality and innovation, and compatibility with the community. This award honors projects that take a visionary approach to address identified needs and integrate and support the overall planning goals of the City.
“On behalf of the City Council, I would like to thank the American Planning Association for this award. It reflects the dedication and professionalism of the City staff and consultants that worked on this important project,” said Mayor Ulloa as she accepted the award. "I would like to thank and congratulate the Chino team who delivered the Downtown Civic Center Master Plan.”
Despite the challenges created by the COVID pandemic, the plan was drafted following a robust public engagement effort that included 29 stakeholder meetings with 13 stakeholder interest groups, four technical advisory committee meetings, four community events, and two community surveys with a total of 633 responses, which reflect the City’s commitment to ensuring that the final Civic Center Master Plan reflects input from the varied segments of the community.
The award recognizes the project for designing a walkable, accessible, and well-connected civic center campus that serves as the “Heart of Chino” by providing civic services in an inviting environment abounding with recreational, shopping, dining, entertainment, and housing opportunities.
This award-winning, community-centered plan fosters a vibrant downtown atmosphere that encourages daytime and nighttime usage by residents and visitors while celebrating Chino’s rich history and agricultural heritage through urban design and programming.