The City of Casa Grande received a “Best Master Plan” award by the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) for the Life on Main Master Plan in downtown Casa Grande. The award was presented to the Planning & Development Department during the 2014 APA -Arizona Chapter Conference on November 6 in Yuma, Arizona.

The Life on Main Master Plan provides a blue print for developing approximately 15 acres of vacant land that the City owns south of the Union Pacific Railroad in downtown Casa Grande. The City worked closely with Matrix Design Group from the Phoenix, Arizona office to develop the Master Plan, which was approved by the Casa Grande City Council in August 2013.

“We’re honored to receive this award for a master plan that will help guide development in the area to attract more businesses, residents and an overall sense of vibrant downtown community,” said Casa Grande Planning and Development Director Paul Tice.

Central to the proposed plan is preserving the Casa Grande Hotel and Shonessy House and enhancing these structures with an active, flexible “historic plaza” for art fairs, farmers markets, a children’s playground, a community garden and other life enhancing features.

Also part of the Master Plan is a proposed gateway feature that honors the region’s historic past with an iconic pedestrian bridge spanning the railroad tracks along E. Main Street extending over Top and Bottom Street south to W. Main Avenue that will connect to the historic plaza.

The Master Plan is the result of a year-long planning process that included input from several meetings with the public, community stakeholders, and city officials. The Master Plan includes a detailed Implementation Program and a list of potential funding sources which the City may pursue in order to accomplish these strategies.

According to the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association, the annual awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of professional planners, citizen planners and others in making communities a better place to live.