Greenwood, SC America in Bloom Awards Results Announced
Greenwood, SC America in Bloom Awards Results Announced
Top honors for the prestigious 2019 America in Bloom National Awards Program were announced at the annual awards held in St. Charles, IL. on October 5.
All participants were evaluated on seven criteria: overall impression, community vitality, environmental efforts, celebrating heritage, urban forestry, landscaped areas and flowers. Additionally, they were judged on their community’s evaluation tour preparation and actions. America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained judges to personally visit participants. In addition, each participant receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.
Greenwood received a seven-star rating out of a possible ten stars and continues to be the only community in SC to have ever participated. This rating is an improvement from the six-star rating in 2018.
Greenwood was also awarded a special surprise award,
“Coolest Place for Kids.”
The winning nomination stated, “Greenwood is home to numerous kid friendly facilities and does a fabulous job of making all of us wish to be a kid again! Its signature collection of topiaries transforms their city center into a fantastical tour of larger-than-life animal sculptures completely covered in plants. The “Tweets on Main” program, the brainchild of resident fifth grade students, was sponsored by dozens of volunteer hours from multiple local organizations. The program not only entertains children and families with a scavenger-like hunt throughout the Uptown district but shows Greenwood’s schoolchildren that they have a voice and role in curating their hometown experience.” There are plans to present this award and recognize the students at an upcoming school board meeting in the near future.
In addition, Greenwood also received a nomination for the national outstanding achievement award in flowers. They were also awarded special recognition for their efforts in flowers.
Nikki Springer and Teresa Woodard, AIB judges, visited communities of similar populations and spent two days touring each town, meeting municipal officials, residents and volunteers. Other competing communities in the 22,000 – 30,000 population category were Calabasas, CA., Ridgeland, MS, West Chicago, IL, and Athens, OH. Plans for the future in Greenwood includes preparations for 2020 and
utilizing the judges’ recommendations to enhance our sense of place. Greenwood will also serve as the host city for the 2021 National Symposium in partnership with Spartanburg. SC, and will soon begin planning and coordination of a Symposium Committee to begin the process.
America in Bloom executive director, Laura Kunkle, said, “America in Bloom is helping towns and cities of all sizes achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year’s group is again remarkable. These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live in America.”
To date, over 250 communities from 41 states have participated in the program and more than 22 million people have been touched by it.
Registrations for the 2020 national awards program can be submitted until February 28, 2020. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.
For more information on becoming a part of Greenwood In Bloom, contact Angelle LaBorde at 864- 889-9312 or Kelly McWhorter at 864-953-2465.
America in Bloom is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs and personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees, and other environmental and lifestyle enhancement.
For more information, visit www.AmericaInBloom.org.
