Americans across the country are becoming more and more aware of the value of their personal surroundings – both for their personal feeling of well-being in a chaotic and stressful world, but also for their pocketbook - the value of their personal property. There are numerous success stories.

• Communities are realizing that design does make a difference.
• Communities are raising funds to bury utility wires. States are passing legislation to assist in this endeavor.
• Communities are banning billboards and undertaking financial incentives to remove them.
• Communities are fighting suburban sprawl and commercial strip development.
• Communities are regulating cell tower locations and finding innovative solutions to camouflage or hide cell towers in beneficial ways.
• Communities are revitalizing their main streets and town centers as an antidote to sprawl.
• Communities are fighting litter and graffiti blight.

Significantly nationally recognized non-profits are participating in this effort and have provided resources toolkits to help. For more information about these programs go to:

• American Planning Association (APA)
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• The Conservation Fund
• Trust for Public Lands
• American Farmlands Trust
• Urban Land Institute
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Keep America Beautiful
• Smart Growth Network
• Project for Public Spaces
• National Trust Main Street Center
• Townscape Institute
• American Forest Foundation
• Project Learning Tree