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Plano’s City Planning Is Excellent, Earns Prestigious Statewide Honors

The city’s projects offer examples for other cities to follow
Matilda Preisendorf
downtown-plano
Photo: Historic Downtown Plano Association | Visit Plano

Plano’s Planning Department has once again proven itself a leader in shaping communities, earning three prestigious awards from the American Planning Association (APA) Texas Chapter in 2025.

The APA Texas Chapter bases its awards on creativity, public involvement and real-world results. Plano’s projects stood out for their mix of history, storytelling and practical planning tools — offering examples that other Texas cities may look to when shaping their own futures.

The department was honored in three categories:

  • Gold Award, Journalism 
  • Silver Award, Historic Preservation 
  • Silver Award, Implementation

Gold Award For Journalism: Telling Plano’s Story

The Gold Award recognized Plano’s documentary Sticking to the Plan, which chronicles the city’s transformation from a rural farming community into a nationally recognized hub of innovation and livability. The film highlighted the role of strategic planning in shaping sustainable growth and helped bring greater public awareness to how careful city planning directly impacts residents’ quality of life for years to come.

Silver Award For Historic Preservation: Reviving The Texas Pool

The Historic Preservation Award celebrated the revitalization of the Texas Pool, a mid-century landmark that was once under threat. Through community support, public and private funding, and inclusive programming such as swim lessons and cultural events, the site has been restored as a vibrant civic space.

swimming-at-the-texas-pool
Photo: Ben Garrett | Visit Plano

The pool was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019 and designated as a Plano Heritage Landmark in 2023. Constructed in 1961, it played a significant role in Plano's initial master-planned development within Dallas North Estates, overseen by Herbert Hunt.

Silver Award For Implementation: Future Land Use Tools

The Implementation Award recognized Plano’s efforts to put its comprehensive plan into practice. By developing a future land use map with tracking tools, detailed guidance for land use recommendations and clear policies for zoning requests, the city has created a transparent, consistent framework for redevelopment that builds public trust.

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