Oct 4, 2010

America in Bloom Announces 2010 WinnersSource: America in Bloom

The 2010 America in Bloom program were announced in St. Louis on Oct. 2. America in Bloom promotes nationwide beautification through education and community involvement by encouraging the use of flowers, plants, trees, and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.

The 2010 America in Bloom program were announced at the organization’s annual awards ceremony in St. Louis on Oct. 2.

Each participating town was judged on eight criteria: tidiness, community involvement, environmental awareness, heritage, urban forestry, landscape, floral displays, and turf and groundcovers across three different sectors: municipal, residential, and commercial.

Specially trained judges visited towns of similar populations and spent two days touring the town, meeting municipal officials, residents, and volunteers.

Population category winners:

• Echo, Oregon – Under 2,000 Population Category
• Lewes, Delaware – 2,001-4,000 Population Category
• Charles City, Iowa – 4,001-10,000 Population Category
• Tipp City, Ohio – 10,001-15,000 Population Category
• Arroyo Grande, California – 15,001- 25,000 Population Category
• Westfield, New Jersey – 25,001-50,000 Population Category
• Bloomington, Indiana – 50,001-100,000 Population Category

This year’s eight criteria awards were presented. The criteria awards are based on feedback received from the teams of judges on outstanding efforts they witnessed during their summer of judging across America. These criteria awards only go to one community among all of the AIB entrants across all of the population categories.

This year’s criteria award winners are:

• Arroyo Grande, Calif. – Community Involvement Award Sponsored by the American Horticultural Society
• Fayetteville, Ark. – Environmental Awareness Award
• Bloomington, Ind. – Urban Forestry Award Sponsored by J. Frank Schmidt Son
• Rising Sun, Ind. – Tidiness Award
• Webster Groves, Mo. – Heritage Preservation Award Sponsored by Meister Media Worldwide
• Shipshewana, Ind. – Floral Displays Award Sponsored by Ball Horticultural Co.
• Westfield, N.J. – Landscaped Areas Award Sponsored by OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals
• Addison, Texas – Turf Groundcover Areas Award

For more information on America in Bloom and the Awards program click here. Registrations for the 2011 program can be submitted until February 28, 2011.