Harrison Avenue Named Finalist for Florida People’s Choice Award — Bay County, It’s Time to Vote!

Downtown Panama City’s Harrison Avenue is one of only four finalists statewide for APA Florida’s 2026 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award.

Frank Gotaas

Sep 7, 2026

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One of Panama City’s most familiar streets is getting statewide recognition, and now Bay County residents have an opportunity to help bring home the title.

Harrison Avenue in Historic Downtown Panama City has been selected as one of four finalists for the 2026 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award, presented by the American Planning Association Florida Chapter, better known as APA Florida.

This year’s theme is “Great People-Focused Places,” recognizing Florida spaces that create connections between people and their communities, preserve local identity and culture, and provide places where people genuinely want to gather and belong.

For anyone who has spent time in Downtown Panama City, it is easy to understand why Harrison Avenue made the list.

The Heart of Historic Downtown Panama City

Harrison Avenue has served as the Main Street of Panama City’s historic downtown since the community began developing in the early 1900s following the city’s incorporation.

While Harrison Avenue continues far beyond downtown, the section being recognized stretches approximately 2,439 feet — about 0.48 miles — from East 6th Street/Business Highway 98 south to Government Street near St. Andrews Bay.

It may be less than half a mile, but a lot of Panama City’s personality is packed into that short stretch.

Historic buildings sit close to the street alongside locally owned restaurants, shops, businesses and gathering spaces. Walk toward the southern end of Harrison Avenue and you eventually reach the waterfront and St. Andrews Bay.

It is also a corridor where many of downtown’s community activities take place throughout the yea, bringing residents together to eat, shop, listen to music, attend festivals and simply spend time downtown.

A Downtown That Came Back Stronger

Harrison Avenue’s nomination also tells a story about resilience.

Hurricane Michael devastated Panama City and much of Bay County in October 2018. The rebuilding and revitalization efforts that followed created an opportunity to rethink downtown while preserving the character that made it special.

According to APA Florida, post-Hurricane Michael efforts along Harrison Avenue focused on resilience, downtown living and activity, connectivity, sustainability and placemaking.

Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes described Harrison Avenue as representing both the heart of historic downtown and the resilience and community spirit of Panama City.

That makes this nomination about more than buildings, sidewalks and streets.

It is recognition of a downtown that Bay County residents helped rebuild, support and bring back to life.

Harrison Avenue Is Competing Against Three Florida Finalists

APA Florida selected only four finalists for the 2026 award:

City of Bonita Springs
Harrison Avenue, Downtown Panama City
Palm City Place & Patio
Wellington Town Center

Now the public gets to help decide which community earns the People’s Choice Award.

Bay County — Let’s Vote for Harrison Avenue!

This is one of those moments when a simple vote can help shine a statewide spotlight on Downtown Panama City.

Voting remains open through Wednesday, September 30, at 4 p.m. Central Time, and the winner is expected to be announced by APA Florida on Thursday, October 1.

Cast your vote for Harrison Avenue, Downtown Panama City:

https://form.jotform.com/fapa/2026GPIF

Want to learn more about Harrison Avenue and all four finalists?

https://florida.planning.org/community-outreach/great-places-florida/2026/

If Harrison Avenue has been part of your memories, whether you have attended a downtown festival, enjoyed dinner with friends, supported a small business, watched live music, explored the waterfront or simply walked down the avenue, this is a chance to show some hometown pride.

Bay County, let’s get behind Downtown Panama City and help Harrison Avenue become Florida’s 2026 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award winner.

Vote, share the voting link with your friends and neighbors, and help spread the word.

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