SANTA MONICA—The Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square project received a National Achievement Award for Urban Design from the American Planning Association on March 31.

According to a press release from the City of Santa Monica, the project was just one of 12 National Achievement Awards and 17 Planning Excellence Award designees from hundreds of submissions to be acknowledged on the national stage.

Tongva Park used to be an underutilized urban swath of asphalt. We have unpaved a parking lot and put up Paradise. Tongva Park is a transformational project embodying excellence in urban design, offering new connectivity in anticipation of the pending arrival of light rail nearby, and providing amenities for all members of our community, both residents and visitors. We are thrilled that the APA National Awards Jury has recognized the success of this project in serving the people of Santa Monica,” said Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown.

Both Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square is the blueprint of a new urban landscape that has restored the area’s ecosystem. It opened in 2013, after 20 years of planning efforts, the parks span 7.4 acres and feature rolling hills, meadows, and gardens that overlook the Pacific Ocean and the historic Santa Monica Pier.

Ken Genser Square and Tongva Park is located at 1615 Ocean Avenue at the Santa Monica Civic Center. To learn more visit www.smgov.net/TongvaPark.