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The city of Jacksonville has received a national award for its work to protect the city from flooding, intense heat and other severe weather.
The American Planning Association announced that the city would be the recipient of the 2024 National Planning Award for Resilience and Sustainability for its Resilient Jacksonville strategy, which establishes a framework for hardening the city from climate risks over the next 50 years.
“The City of Jacksonville is honored to be recognized by the APA for our groundbreaking Resilient Jacksonville strategy,” Mayor Donna Deegan said in an Oct. 23 news release. “We are proud of the innovative approach and the hard work our staff dedicated to this effort. It is vital that we work together with all stakeholders to achieve a resilient future for Jacksonville.”
The city’s Resilient Jacksonville launched in October 2023. According to the release, the city has implemented 38 of 45 actions outlined in the strategy. An annual report can be found at jacksonville.gov/resilient.
“Through its grounded, science-based approach and collaborative process, Resilient Jacksonville creates a stronger and safer future for the city,” said Emily Liu, FAICP, 2024 APA awards jury chair. “This dynamic strategy successfully identified key characteristics that will enhance resilience across Jacksonville’s vast landscape, addressing not only shoreline risks but also the diverse challenges faced by this expansive city.”
The city’s strategy development team comprised The Water Institute, SCAPE, Fernleaf, Halff & Associates, and Acuity Design Group. Government organization, subject matter experts and local residents also participated in the development of the strategy.