The GPA Awards program honors and celebrates the projects and people who exhibit innovation, excellence, leadership, and other key attributes that advance their communities and the planning field.
2025 Award Recipients
GPA received outstanding nominations in a variety of categories for our Annual Awards. Thank you to all who submitted plans and individuals for consideration – it is evident that we are doing a lot of great work here in Georgia! A big congratulations to the 2025 GPA Award winners!
Award Category: Distinguished Leadership in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Project Name: Southside Revitalization Plan
Award Winners: Valdosta Visionaries Team
Presented to a member of the Georgia Chapter in recognition of an individual, specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Award Category: Distinguished Planning Leadership
Award Winner: Suzanne Kirk
Presented to a member of the Georgia Chapter for sustained contribution to the profession through distinguished practice, teaching, or writing.
Award Category: Innovation in Planning
Project Name: Connected Vehicle Technology Deployment and Planning in Henry County
Award Winner: Henry County
In recognition of a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan.
Award Category: Outstanding Planning Process
Project Name: Amplifying the Georgia World Congress Center
Award Winners: HKS, Inc./GWCCA
Recognizing the quality and completeness of the overall planning process.
Award Category: Outstanding Public Involvement
Project Name: Plan “A”: Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan
Award Winners: City of Atlanta/TSW
Recognizing an initiative where a region or community involves the general public in a planning activity above and beyond the minimum state or local requirements, and where that involvement contributes greatly to the final product.
Award Category: Outstanding Planning Document
Project Name: Mountain to River Trail Activation Study
Award Winner:Â City of Marietta
Recognizing the quality and completeness of the overall planning processIn recognition of a specific planning document/ deliverable that goes above and beyond the traditional planning document in terms of communication, graphics, storytelling, and overall quality of thought and delivery.
Award Category: Outstanding Plan Implementation
Project Name: Downtown Albany Master Plan
Award Winners:Â City of Albany/TSW
This award emphasizes long-term, measurable results. Emphasis on connection to the original plan; effectiveness of implementation, equity, and sustainability.
Past Award Recipients
Looking for previous years’ award winners? Â Visit this page to view 2009 – 2024 award recipients.