Brewton brought home top honors in the prestigious 2014 America in Bloom national awards program at the annual awards held in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 4.
America in Bloom executive director, Laura Kunkle, said, “America in Bloom is helping participants of all types achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year’s towns and cities is again remarkable.”
All participants were evaluated on six criteria: overall impression, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, and floral displays.
Additionally they were judged on their community involvement across municipal, residential, and commercial sectors. America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained judges to personally visit participants and provide a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.
Marlborough Packard and Sue Amatangelo, two specially trained AIB judges, visited towns of similar populations and spent two days touring each town, meeting municipal officials, residents, and volunteers. Brewton competed against Belpre, Ohio; Catskill, N.Y.; Estes Park, Colo.; and Greendale, Ind., in the 4,501 to 10,000 population category.
Brewton received a three-bloom rating and a special award for the best historic restoration project. In addition, they received a special mention for overall impression.
The judges said, “Brewton, Ala., is a city where the kindness of the residents is as deep and rich as their heritage. Although many small towns across America are faced with the reality of declining population, volunteers, forward looking city officials and a community enthused with itself call this spot in Southern Alabama, ‘The Place to Be!’”
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.