In Memoriam: Hunter Morrison

Hunter Morrison

Hunter Morrison, an APA National Planning Award recipient and influential association member, passed away on December 16, 2025.

From 1980 to 2000, Morrison served as the Cleveland planning director. During his tenure, he was instrumental in guiding the development of North Coast Harbor, a downtown district that connects to Lake Erie, as well as the Gateway sports complex, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and other acclaimed projects.

He then worked as director of the Youngstown State University Center for Urban and Regional Studies. There, he managed the Youngstown 2010 plan that focused on "right sizing the city," which received the 2007 APA National Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach. Morrison also created the university's Centennial Campus Master Plan.

From 2012 to 2015, Morrison served as executive director of the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium, a public-private partnership dedicated to improving the resilience and sustainability of the region. Vibrant NEO 2040, the consortium's three-year initiative, received the 2015 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan. The regional plan tackled issues revolving around shrinking cities and digital engagement.

Morrison was a senior fellow of urban studies at Cleveland State's Levin College, taught at several universities, and was a guest lecturer at many colleges.