By Daimon Eklund | Jun 19, 2015

The City of Tacoma has been recognized by Governor Jay Inslee as one of the winners of the 2015 Smart Communities Award for the creation of the Prairie Line Trail in partnership with UW Tacoma.

Tacoma was awarded the Smart Partnerships award for the trail project, which created a multi-use trail on an old railroad corridor connecting the center of the UWT campus with the surrounding community. You can watch a UWTV feature on the trail for more information on the project.

The Smart Communities Award program is in its 10th year. It recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to quality of life in Washington State.

“These forward-thinking projects help create and sustain a thriving economic climate and strengthen our ability to lead in the global economy,” Gov. Inslee said in a press release. “Washington is a great state in which to live, work and play, thanks to visionary leadership in our local communities such as those we celebrate today.”

The awards will officially be presented on June 26 at the Association of Washington Cities annual conference in Wenatchee. 

The full list of the 2015 Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners:

Smart Partnerships Award – Development Project to Implement a Plan

  • City of Tacoma–Tacoma Prairie Line Trail - transformation of a one-mile historic railroad corridor in downtown Tacoma into public space linking Brewery District, University of Washington Tacoma campus and the waterfront.

Smart Vision Award – Comprehensive Planning

  • City of Bellingham – Downtown Bellingham Plan. Judges noted it was the broadest, most inclusive look at downtown issues they had seen.

Smart Choices Award – Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan

  • City of Tukwila–Southcenter Subarea Plan fostering development of a high-density, regionally-oriented, mixed use center including housing

Judges’ Merit Award

  • City of Renton–Kirkland Avenue Townhomes, the first publicly-funded, affordable, multi-family modular construction project in Western Washington.
  • City of Lacey–Woodland District Strategic Plan Implementation
  • City of Bremerton and Kitsap County–Gorst Subarea Plan and Gorst Creek Watershed Characterization and Framework Plan

Other 2015 nominees:

  • City of Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
  • Port of Camas-Washougal Waterfront Water Access Area and Trail
  • City of Tacoma Hilltop Sub-area Plan and Planned Action EIS
  • City of Burien-Port of Seattle Northeast Redevelopment Area Storm Water Facilities and Miller Creek Greenway
  • City of Covington Hawk Property Sub-area Plan and Planned Action EIS