Bridgeport recognized with American Planning Association award

BRIDGEPORT—The city has been recognized with the 2021 Vernon Deines Award presented annually by the Washington/Oregon Chapter of American Planning Association (APA). Bridgeport was selected for its work on the SR73 Revitalization Plan that proposes to upgrade that portion of State Route 173 that passes through the downtown corridor. The award is given for an outstanding small town or rural comprehensive plan or special project plan that addresses the development of a neighborhood, community, county, or region.
With the assistance of SCJ Alliance Consulting Services of Spokane the city has been working toward a downtown revitalization concept for the past several years incorporating elements from its 2016 Comprehensive Plan. Last January the city council approved a resolution to proceed with the project following a survey of businesses and residents about the plan. A seven-member Revitalization Committee comprised of Mayor Janet Conklin, Planning Commission Chairman Leslie Robb, city planner Kurt Danison, clerk/treasurer Judy Brown, council member Mike Bjornstad, and planning commission members Dan Peterson and Ray Allstot is spearheading the project.
SJC nominated Bridgeport for the APA award. The 80-page Community Revitalization PlanST-173 Corridor can be found at bridgeportwashington.net under the Forms & Docs tab.
Bridgeport Mayor Janet Conklin said the APA will highlight the city’s revitalization plan at its October conference.