The Bates Awards Program honors excellence in site planning, development practices, and the innovative use of land resources.
The William H. Bates Awards Program was established in 1980 by the Delaware County Planning Commission with the goal “to encourage developers and municipalities to cooperate in providing a more efficient use of land and public services for County residents.”
This long-standing program initially recognized innovative land developments but has now been expanded with two new categories: Adaptive Reuse and Municipal Innovation and Investment. This is not a strict competition. It is meant to recognize applicants and municipalities who strive to improve the built environment and the overall life experience within Delaware County. Additionally, the program is not limited to large scale efforts–we are equally interested in small scale projects and programs as every effort is important!
Questions about the Bates Awards Program? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Nominations are open November 5 to February 27 and will be awarded in May 2026.
There are three categories:
A. Innovative Land Development: This award will be given to land development
projects that demonstrate advanced planning principles.
Examples include but are not limited to: mixed-use development that provides public amenities, public/private collaborations, exceptional designs, open space preservation projects
B. Adaptive Reuse: This award will be given to projects that demonstrate
creativity in the conversion or expansion of an existing structure for a new use.
Examples include but are not limited to: rail trails, industrial redevelopment to residential or mixed-use properties, short-term pop-up projects
C. Municipal Innovation and Investment: This award will be given to projects
that demonstrate excellence in municipal/civic investment.
Examples include but are not limited to: new parks or trails, public amenities, services, creative stormwater solutions, and forward-thinking planning efforts.
Applications must be submitted through the William H Bates Awards 2025 Nomination Form and must include:
- Up to 3 pictures and/or supporting documents of the project
- A maximum 300-word description of the project and how it meets the
criteria for its category
- A list of partners involved in the project (i.e. consultants, community groups)
AWARD SELECTION PROCESS
The William H Bates Awards Program is not a strict competition. It is meant to recognize applicants and municipalities who strive to improve the built environment and the overall life experience within Delaware County and, as such, there are often multiple awardees for each category.
The process for determining awardees will start with Delaware County Planning Department staff reviewing all nominations and creating a short list for each category. This short list will be presented to the Delaware County Planning Commission who will select the final award recipients, which can include more than one recipient per category.
Awards will be presented in May 2026.
PREVIOUS AWARDS
List of Previously Awarded Project
ABOUT WILLIAM H. BATES
In 1982, the Awards Program was renamed in honor of William H. Bates, the late Chairman of the Planning Commission and whose seventeen (17) years of service on the Planning Commission merited special recognition.
Mr. Bates served as Chair of the Planning Commission during an important time of growth for the County that saw significant residential and commercial developments, including the original Granite Run Mall (cutting edge for its time period). Mr. Bates oversaw the development and adoption of Delaware County Land Use Plan 2000, which identified growth areas and areas of limited growth. This plan helped to coordinate development and timing of public facilities across the County, such as Rose Tree Park.
During Mr. Bates’ tenure as Chair, the Planning Commission supported the creation of the first comprehensive plans for many municipalities. It also tracked and planned for evolving development patterns of the 1970s. Work included the development of Making Commercial Strips Work: An Urban Design Study, a handbook to help municipalities address commercial strips and their impact on surrounding communities. Mr. Bates also Chaired the Planning Commission as it developed the 1976 Open Space, Parks, and Recreation Study, which spurred countless conservation efforts across the County, including the Darby Creek Greenway Acquisition project.
