Community Resiliency Award

The American Planning Association’s 2018 Colorado Merit Award for Community Resiliency was awarded to Design Concepts’ and our Associate Carter Marshall. It is in recognition of the the licensure program and accompanying handbook created for the Lyons Flood Recovery Land Use and Management Plan.

The Lyons Flood Recovery Land Use and Management Plan helped Lyons recover from the devastating 2013 Colorado flood and set parameters that will make them more resilient for the future. Its innovative design, inclusive and active community engagement, and effective plan for community improvement and economic growth has had a remarkable impact on the town of Lyons.

Planning that ensures a more resilient future

The licensure program transferred control of public land parcels to community members in the form of revocable year-long license agreements. The licensure eases the Town’s burden to develop and maintain these parcels.

Carter and the program he facilitated engaged the community in an open-minded, creative way. The resulting Land Management Plan has ensured ongoing community involvement in the long-term recovery effort.

Recovering from natural disasters with an eye to the future

The 2013 flood was a devastating event which affected virtually every facet of life for the town’s citizens. Several days of torrential rain caused flash flooding, property damage, and loss of life, with nearly all the roads out of town cut off while many of the town’s residents had to evacuate their homes and scramble for resources and shelter.

By extensive collaboration with neighborhood stakeholders, local boards, commissions, and community groups, we developed a plan detailing a new community vision, outlining capital costs, building a budget for operations and maintenance, and highlighting potential funding sources. 

You can see Lyons’ Flood Recovery updates here.