IDA Presents Downtown Achievement Awards Recognizing Excellence in Urban Place Management
The International Downtown Association (IDA) recognized Union Square Partnership (USP) with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to its 14th Street Busway Mural Program. A jury of peer professionals reviewed, deliberated, and evaluated all entries in the 2025 Downtown Achievement Awards. The Award of Excellence acknowledges an excellent response to an urban place management challenge, demonstrating the application of industry knowledge and exceeding jury criteria.
The 14th Street Busway Mural Program was entered in the category of Public Space Management and Operations, which IDA identifies as one of the seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in categories including: clean, safe and hospitality; placemaking; activation; public art; facilities management, and more.
“Union Square has always been a place where people come together to share ideas, celebrate culture, and build community. The annual 14th Street Busway Mural honors this tradition, giving emerging and established artists a platform to create work that celebrates Union Square’s history and cultural significance. For the past five years, we have had the honor of collaborating with talented artists and hundreds of community members to enliven the streetscape at the heart of our district,” said Julie Stein, Executive Director of Union Square Partnership.
USP’s annual 14th Street Busway Murals are created in collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation Art (NYC DOT Art) program and supported by Street Plans. These colorful artworks have featured collaborations with New York-based artists Yuke Li for “Turning Point,” Talisa Almonte for “Flowing Together,” Vanesa Álvarez’s “Unity on Union Square,” Ji Yong Kim’s “Ripples of Peace + Calm,” and GERALUZ + WERC’s “Collective Vision.”
The 7,500 square foot street mural is painted on 14th Street in Union Square between Broadway and University Place, where an average of 380,000 pedestrians pass through daily. Each year, the mural is installed over five days with the help of approximately 100 community volunteers representing local businesses, institutions, students, and artists. The annual project supports pedestrian safety along a busy commercial and transit corridor, showcases emerging artists, and celebrates the rich history and cultural significance of one of NYC's most dynamic neighborhoods. It demonstrates how art can facilitate the celebration of place, reinforcing USP’s work to enhance Union Square-14th Street’s livability, strengthen the community, and highlight the district’s social and cultural vibrancy.
“Union Square Partnership has demonstrated skillful application of urban place management principles with the 14th Street Busway Mural,” said David Downey, IDA President and CEO. “The mural should serve as a framework for all member communities within IDA.”
IDA convenes this September in Washington, DC for Interwoven: The Power of Passion, Place & Purpose, a four-day conference to discuss emerging trends in place management. Union Square Partnership will be recognized for its award-winning project during the Downtown Achievement Awards ceremony at the 71st Annual Conference & Marketplace, from September 24-27, 2025. IDA’s Annual Conference & Marketplace is the premier gathering for professional place managers and urban champions creating vibrant and healthy cities around the world. The conference features educational sessions, Master Talks (short keynotes from industry leaders), marketplace exhibitors and networking opportunities.
In addition, a depiction of the 14th Street Busway Mural Program will be displayed at the National Building Museum in the City Action Hall, a room within the Museum’s latest exhibition, Coming Together. Coming Together explores the lessons learned and opportunities embraced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a period of adapting and reshaping, cities across the country are coming to terms with lasting changes in work, housing, mobility, entertainment and recreation.
Washington, DC-based IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Union Square Partnership is the urban place management organization representing the interests of businesses, property owners and residents in the Union Square-14th Street district in New York City.