The City of Durango announced it has been officially nominated in two categories for the 2026 Best in Governance Awards, a national program run by Polco that recognizes local governments for responsible leadership and community livability. The nominations were posted on the city’s Civic Alerts page.
According to the city’s announcement, Durango is competing in the “Voice of the People – Transformation in Mobility” category, which honors the highest resident ratings or the biggest improvements in local transportation and transit infrastructure as measured by The National Community Survey®. Other municipalities listed as nominees in this category include Estes Park, CO; Kearney, MO; Plymouth, MN; and Redwood City, CA.
Durango is also nominated for “Voice of the People – Excellence in Parks and Recreation,” recognizing the highest resident ratings for community livability, park spaces, and recreational programming. Competing cities in this category are Golden, CO; Gulf Breeze, FL; Shoreview, MN; and Suwanee, GA.
The awards program selects only a handful of finalists from hundreds—or in some cases thousands—of communities nationwide. One national champion will ultimately be chosen in each category. The city’s nomination underscores its use of data and resident feedback to guide improvements in mobility and recreational amenities.
What’s next: Durango will await the announcement of finalists later in 2026, after which the final national champions will be named. City officials encourage residents to continue providing input through the “Engage” webpage and to stay tuned for further updates.
Sources: durangoco.gov
