Photo above: Pontevedra, Spain before + after. The city’s renovations turned streets that were dominated by heavy traffic and waste into open public spaces for pedestrians. Photos © Concello de Pontevedra courtesy of Center for Active Design.

Reena Agarwal is director of strategic initiatives at the Center for Active Design, which Knight Foundation supports to advance civic engagement.

The Center for Active Design’s annual Excellence awards celebrate the critical role that research and design projects play in creating vibrant and engaged cities. Thanks to rigorous academic research and a multitude of impactful design projects, we know that the design of our buildings, open spaces, neighborhoods and the objects within them has the ability to affect our lives in tremendous ways. From our health and quality of life to the ways in which we are civically engaged, design can make a meaningful difference.

Recognizing this critical role, we are accepting submissions for the Excellence awards. We’re seeking transformative design and research projects that have improved civic engagement within communities. A distinguished jury of design, engagement and health leaders will select the 2016 award winners. Jury members include Mayor Chris Coleman from St. Paul, Minnesota, and Linda Gibbs, principal at Bloomberg Associates.

Informed, engaged communities are fundamental to a strong democracy. However, with the rise of parks, plazas and public spaces that are unusable, inaccessible or simply uninviting, cities around the nation are experiencing negative trends in civic engagement, low voter turnout, reduced participation in local events, and residents who don’t frequent the public spaces in their communities. Despite these negative trends, promising innovations are emerging across the country.

Many past Excellence award-winning projects have created vibrant spaces that invite use, increase access or change the way that people view their community. For example, Guthrie Green in Tulsa, Oklahoma, transformed a former truck yard into a lively public space that is frequented by thousands of people of all ages. Another winner, Space to Grow in Chicago, Illinois, transformed a series of underused schoolyards into dynamic spaces that support local stewardship and offer much-needed spaces for residents to interact. Finally, the Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool won an award for empowering community members to advocate for changes within their neighborhoods. Regardless of the size, location, or use, the Excellence award winners serve as catalysts for broad-based community transformation and inspiring precedents for future design and research.

Have you worked on a project that has sparked civic engagement in communities? Are you a part of the Knight Cities Challenge and working to make your city more successful? These innovative projects are ideal candidates for an Excellence award, as they effect community level engagement. Gain recognition for your efforts and join the vanguard of past winners shaping how our buildings, streets and neighborhoods enhance the quality of life for future generations around the world, by submitting your project to the Excellence awards.

Applications for the Excellence awards are open through June 10. Apply at awards.centerforactivedesign.org/apply.