The winner of the 2016 National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation is the Downtown Columbus Riverfront plan by the City of Columbus and Columbus Downtown Development Corporation.
Restoring the Scioto River provided more than just improving public access to the riverfront. It spurred community reinvestment and created five new downtown parks, removed two low-head dams, restored the riverfront ecosystem and revitalized adjacent neighborhoods. These investments have helped to grow downtown's residential population 108 percent since 2002.
Learn more about the plan: https://www.planning.org/awards/2016/columbusriverfront.htm