The Lawrence Journal-World has won the American Planning Assn.’s 46th annual Journalism Award Competition in its circulation class for “Mapping the Future,” a special section published in December examining Lawrence’s growth opportunities.

Only one newspaper is honored in each of APA’s three circulation divisions; the Journal-World is in the under 50,000 circulation category.

Judges said they were impressed with the series’ depth of reporting and exploration of the city’s planning history and potential. The report, which can be found at www.ljworld.com, included bonus material online and an accompanying report on 6News.

The paper is “highly complimented to receive this recognition for our company’s efforts to engage the public in the critical question of how this great city is going to plan for the future,” said Dolph C. Simons Jr., Journal-World editor and chairman of The World Company. “Lawrence is extremely fortunate to face this challenge of growth, rather than have a loss of population, but it is so important we have the vision and courage to plan wisely and to think big.”

Simons added: “Unless there is a world catastrophe, or local officials and citizens become complacent, Lawrence will continue to be an attractive place in which to live, work and play. This being the case, we must make sure we take care of immediate needs, but also plan sufficiently far into the future.

“This is what we tried to encourage in our ‘Mapping the Future’ special section, as Lawrence is truly at the crossroads over the question of expansion. The current situation relative to the city’s sewer system, water treatment facilities and trafficways offers a perfect and timely example of the need for better planning and a clearer vision of the future and the city’s needs.”

Other winners were The New Orleans Times-Picayune (circulation above 100,000) for its coverage of the questions the city faced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the East Valley Tribune of Mesa, Ariz., (circulation 50,000 to 100,000) for a report on the fastest growing region of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

APA is a nonprofit public interest and research organization representing 37,000 practicing planners, government leaders and citizens involved with urban and rural planning issues. APA’s objective is to encourage planning that will meet the needs of people and society more effectively.