The goal of the program is to recognize, highlight and publish planning and design solutions that best illustrate the following park design principles: -Reverence for place
-Engagement of all people
-Expansion beyond traditional boundaries
-Advancement of sustainability
-Informed decision making
-An integrated research, planning, design, and review process

The awards program is intended to reach both park planning and design communities. This call for submissions is extended both internationally and to parks that are administered by all levels of government.

Entries must demonstrate response to one or more of these principles. Additionally entries in all categories must illustrate innovative and sensistive strategies applied toward resource preservation, energy conservation, sustainability, contextual design and mitigation of climate change.

The award program seeks to recognize quality examples of these principles that are demonstrated through one of the following categories: Master Plans (adopted or approved), Design Guidelines (adopted or approved), Building Design (compete and open to the public), Site Design (complete and open to the public), and Transportation Design (complete, open and operational).

All submittals will be judged on the following criteria:
-Leadership and innovation demonstrated in the application of the principles.
-Creativity and sensitivity demonstrated in the application of the principles.
-Number of principles illustrated.
-Complexity of park or open space problem solved.
-Compliance with entry requirements.