2025-2026 Love Our Places Application

The Public Space Studio by way of the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning is proud to present the Love Our Places (LOP) Program. Love Our Places focuses on the cultivation and design of vibrant, culturally centered, experience driven, public spaces in Atlanta. Through this program we offer our technical expertise in designing your proposed Public Space Projects. 

Before filling out this application, please make sure you have reviewed the Love Our Places guidebook, which can be found and downloaded from the City of Atlanta’s website. This document provides guidance on applying to the program includes clear instructions, various levels of design support, do-it-yourself best practices and opportunities to help applicants successfully implement their community-driven projects.

After submitting the application to the Public Space Studio, your project proposal will be reviewed by staff, and you will receive an acceptance or notice to resubmit the next cycle. All notifications of acceptance or resubmission will happen by mid-September.

Page 1

ELIGIBILITY

Please review the Guidebook to ensure you are eligible for this program. The criteria is below:

• Include a property (if applicable) within the City of Atlanta. 
• Involves designing a space for public use on public land. 
• Present an Idea/Design or Space to begin the design process. 
• Include a proposed implementation strategy that will result in the project’s construction completion within 3 years from the date of Construction Concept Package delivery. 
• Include a maintenance plan for at least the first five (5) years from project’s construction completion. 

 

AWARD CRITERIA

Projects are selected through the evaluation of the following criteria:

• Location (4 Points) 
• Applicant History and Community Support (12 Pts).  
• Project Proposal (8 Pts)
• Implementation and Maintenance Plan (8 pts) 

Total: 32 Points Available

For a breakdown of the awarding criteria and eligibility requirements please visit the Guidebook.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Requirements

• Name of point of contact
• Contact information for point of contact
• Neighborhood name
• NPU
• Community team: Names of community organizations or groups that will serve as a part of the community team
• Proposal description including the location / site, idea, project type from guideline list, relevant neighborhood context, historical context, and community need. (No longer than 900 words. Attaching documents is acceptable. (minimum 14pt font, double spaced)
• Confirmation/acknowledgement of previously accepted/awarded projects submitted from this entity or community organization
• Implementation plan
• Maintenance plan and sample schedule

Encouraged

• Letters of support (neighboring business, neighborhood / community organization registered with the Department of City Planning, or faith-based organization)
• Project type
• Plat
• Photos of site
• Survey of site or plan to get Site Survey completed upon acceptance into the program
• Budget – Potential budget/funding level (i.e. funding for art, furniture, planting, materials, etc. if applicable), funding available or to be raised for implementation
• Any other design documents previously completed for the Design Teams’ reference (site plans, sketches, maps, plans drawn to engineering scale, surveys, property plats, existing condition assessments, references to adopted vision documents, plans or studies, etc.)

All application materials must be submitted or postmarked by July 15, 2026 (by midnight Eastern Standard Time.)

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

Applicants will be notified of acceptance or requested to resubmit during the next cycle by mid-September 2026.

Page 2

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. Why choose Love Our Places?
   Love Our Places provides access to the City Design Team’s expertise for neighborhoods seeking to create vibrant and resilient spaces that foster community connection.
2. How involved is the community?
   The community will be consistently involved in the design process from initial meetings, revisions, and feedback on the final product.
3. What do I need to provide?
   The applicant will provide a site, an idea, or both if desired. In addition you will need to provide a three (3) year implementation strategy and a five (5) year maintenance plan. 
4. How developed does the presented idea need to be?
   The more developed the proposal, the better. Your application will be graded on clarity, depth, and feasibility.
5. What are some site constraints that apply?
   The site must be in the City of Atlanta, publicly owned by the City of Atlanta, be for public use.
6. Do I need design experience to apply?
   You do not need design experience to participate; the City Design Team will provide the expertise needed.
7. Do I have to know the project type to apply?
   No you do not need to know if left blank the team will fill it in.
8. Do I have to know if my project falls within the Enviromental Justice Index?
   We encourage you to lok into whether or not your site falls within this index to support your project proposal. However the project team will check the selection made.
9. Is funding provided?
   No, the City will not be providing any funding for the project; that will be provided by the applicant/community.
10. What is a Construction Concept Package?
    A Construction Concept Package includes a Construction Concept Plan set, Art Package/Design, Implementation Plan, and Maintenance Plan.
11. What is a Construction Concept Plan?
    A Construction Concept Plan is a set of drawings and information directly related to the construction of the proposed project.
12. How can the Construction Concept Package be used?
    A construction concept package can be used to obtain community support, funding, and, in some cases, permitting for the project.
13. Is there a limit to the number of applications per neighborhood?
    Yes, there can be no more than three applications per neighborhood (as defined by the City of Atlanta) per cycle.
14. Why is there a limit on the number of submissions an organization can make?
    We want to make sure that our services can reach multiple neighborhoods in Atlanta, limiting submissions allows for a higher probability of different neighborhoods being selected.

Page 3

APPLICANT INFORMATION:

Page 4

Project Description

LOCATION:

APPLICANT HISTORY:

COMMUNITY SUPPORT:

Each Letter shall include the supporters name, contact number and email. No letter shall come from the same entity or group. Please provide at least double spaced 14pt font. (150 - 500 words)

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

MAINTENANCE PLAN

Page 5

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please provide any additional information you find to be relevant to the understand, design and implementation of this proposal.

APPLICANT CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the information in this application is true and accurate.

I agree that the design is the intellectual property of the City of Atlanta, and we will not pursue any kind of reuse of the design without the involvement of the Love Our Places program and the City of Atlanta.

I certify that I have read through the Responsibilities of the Applicant Agreement in the guidebook and agree to the statements written.

I understand that the falsification of any information will result in the disqualification of this application and a temporary ban from the Love Our Places Program.

I will commit to leading the community engagement, and collaboration during the design and implementation process of the project.

I understand that the City of Atlanta is not liable for any damages related to this project.

I certify that the project is intended to be implemented and that the maintenance of the project will be done in such a way that does not interfere with traffic, City or County utilities, emergency vehicle access or ADA Compliance.

I understand that this application will be assessed based on the information provided and a submission of it does not guarantee that it will be selected for design assistance.

I agree that if I am an awardee, this form also serves as a release to use my name, photographs, and biographical information in press releases, etc. announcing and promoting this program.

 

Page 7