Ed Levy Receives Arkansas Community Development Society Award

by Mark Peterson - October 23, 2019

Congratulations to Ed Levy, Director of Architecture with Cromwell Architects Engineers, for receiving the 2019 Community Development Achievement Award from the Arkansas Community Development Society.

The Arkansas Community Development Society is an educational nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the community development profession. This includes an awards program to recognize exceptional accomplishments of communities and individuals.

Whitney Horton, vice president of the Arkansas Community Development Society, presented the award to Levy on Oct. 17 at the organization's annual conference in Conway. 

Horton cited Levy’s many accomplishments through his work with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Breakthrough Solutions Partnership. This included leading design charrettes in the communities of Harrison, Mena, Waldron, Mount Ida, Clinton, and Eureka Springs to develop Breakthrough Solutions that will enhance the quality of life in these communities and provide the future-altering breakthroughs they desire. In part because of his work, downtown Harrison has attracted over 30 new businesses, installed one of the first bicycle-friendly road diets in the state, and received several awards.

“Ed has the gift of helping communities see themselves through new eyes, to build a shared vision for the future," she said. "Ed has given multiple presentations on the ‘Power of Place’ to transform a community and the ‘Power of Visualization in Re-Imagining Your Community’, and has helped re-imagine the communities of Dardanelle, Fairfield Bay, Manila, Dumas, Rison, and Kingsland.

He has received local, state and national awards for his work with Breakthrough Solutions, and his current community development work includes the Trail of Tears Museum for Central Arkansas, the River Trail Landing for North Little Rock, the Johnny Cash Center in Kingsland, and the College of Aspiring Artists in Dumas.”

We thank Levy and Cromwell Architects Engineers for bringing design and beauty to Arkansas communities.