Islip Town Planner Receives Prestigious Award

ISLIP, NY —An Islip official has received a "prestigious award," Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter announced Wednesday.

Ela Dokonal, the Town of Islip Planning and Development Department Commissioner, received the 2024 Andrew Haswell Green Award on Oct. 16 for her "outstanding contributions to urban planning for many years," the town said in a statement.

The award was presented on behalf of the American Planning Association's New York Metro Chapter at the organization's 2024 annual conference at the NYU Kimmel Center for University Life.

According to the statement, the award is given to people who have made "significant and long-lasting contributions" in the field of planning for at least 15 years and recognizes dedication to "improving the built environment, promoting sustainable development, and fostering community engagement."

"Your work, both regionally and internationally, has had a lasting impact on urban design and sustainability. From your leadership in Form-Based Codes to your work on eco-city projects, you have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to promoting smart growth and pedestrian-friendly urban environments," said conference chair Kevin Corte at the event.

Dokonal is trained as an architect and focused her career in planning and urban design. She's also a certified planner and urban designer, certified Climate Change Professional and LEED accredited professional, creative thinker and strategist, with 25 years of local and international experience in transforming places through innovative solutions, the statement said.

According to the town, she's led multi-disciplinary teams integrating technical solutions to solve complex development challenges, while creating development strategies for mixed-use revitalization and development projects. Dokonal utilized her design skills to create numerous adopted design guidelines and innovative form-based codes.