Broadway named one of the 10 greatest streets in America

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Great White Way has gained a new distinction.

Broadway was declared one of the nation's ten 'Great Streets' for 2014.

The designation comes from the American Planning Association.

The 14-mile long roadway was celebrated for its attractions, starting with the Canyon of Heroes to the south all the way north to Fort Tryon Park.

"Broadway in New York City cuts across the city's grid system, creating a series of Squares - Union Square, Madison Square, Herald Square and Times Square among them - which have unique personalities, define neighborhoods and remain centers of activity day and night," the APA said.

The association also mentioned two projects that have transformed the Broadway Corridor, closing it to vehicular traffic and converting the street into pedestrian-only plazas for walkers, cyclists and those lounging in temporary seating.

Also making the top ten list was Main Street in Sag Harbor, recognized by the APA as a nine-block, cosmopolitan meeting place for village officials, business owners, residents and visitors going to work, doing errands, shopping, getting coffee, eating or simply people-watching.

Designated as a national historic district, the street was cited as still showcasing the last vestiges of its whaling industry. Community leaders and residents are now raising funds to refurbish some of the streets historic mansions into functional retail spaces for commercial use.

Each October during National Community Planning Month, APA's Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that add value to communities and foster economic growth and jobs. APA's Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods and Great Public Spaces feature unique and authentic characteristics that have evolved from years of thoughtful and deliberate planning by residents, community leaders and planners.

"Recognizing these special places highlights the role planning plays in adding value to communities," said William Anderson, FAICP, president of APA. "Planners, working with others, help build better communities in a variety of settings, from urban to rural; the result - better neighborhoods, cities, and regions. We applaud these efforts and congratulate this year's designees."

Since Great Places in America was launched in 2007, APA has designated 230 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces.

For more information about these streets, as well as APA's top 10 Great Neighborhoods and top 10 Great Public Spaces for 2014 and previous years, visit

http://www.planning.org/greatplaces