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Photo Credit
Lakeside, Ohio
2012 Winner - 3,001-4,500 Population Category
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2012 Award Winners
The 2012 AIB Symposium and Awards Program held September 20-22 in Fayetteville, Arkansas was a rousing success! More than 150 people joined as we celebrated how communities are planting pride in America. Below is a list of the winners announced during the symposium. Congratulations to all AIB cities! Population Category Awards- Under 3,000 - McCall, Idaho
- 3,001 - 4,500 - Lakeside, Ohio
- 4,501 - 8,000 - Greendale, Indiana
- 8,001 - 13,000 - Smithfield, Virginia
- 13,001 - 25,000 - Arroyo Grande, California
- 25,001 - 50,000 - Holland, Michigan
- 50,001 - 100,000 - Fayetteville, Arkansas
Criteria Awards- Heritage Preservation - Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Floral Displays - Arroyo Grande, California
- Overall Impression - Racine, Wisconsin
- Environmental Efforts - Holland, Michigan
- Community Involvement - Madisonville, Kentucky
- Landscaped Areas - Winter Garden, Florida
- Urban Forestry - Springfield, Ohio
John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award Winner- Marilyn Heifner, Executive Director of the Fayetteville Arkansas Advertising and Promotion Commission.
YouTube Video Award WinnerSpecial Awards- AIB Spirit Award - American Public Gardens Association
- Best Trail System - Winter Garden, Florida
- Best Community Garden Program - Holland, Michigan
- Best Tree Protection Program - Holliston, Massacheusetts
- Most Creative Idea for Fundraising - Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
- Best Program for Young People - Rising Sun, Indiana
- Best Hanging Baskets - Castle Rock, Washington
- Most Effective Use of Bold Foliage - Artesia, California
- Best Community AIB Web Site - Coshocton, Ohio
- Communty Festival that Draws the Most Attendance - Plymouth, Indiana
- Best Historic Walking Tour - Smithfield, Virginia
The following cities have achieved the rank of "Circle of Champions" which is for cities that have a combination of three population category wins and/or criteria awards. Arroyo Grande, CA*; Greendale, IN*; Fayetteville, AR*; Holland, MI*; Tipp City, OH; Bexley, OH; Eureka Springs, AR; Lewes, DE; and Ocala, FL.
Congratulations to all who participated and we can't wait to see you next year, September 19-21 in Orlando, Florida! |
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Chicago Creates the Greenest Stretch of Road in the U.S.
 Chicago's West Side is home to road that time nearly forgot - an area that was seemingly pulled straight out of Thneed-ville. From smokestacks and corrugated steel to train tracks and barbed-wire fencing this stretch of Cermek Road definitely left something to be desired. But armed with $16 million in funding, the city of Chicago planned the upgrade which created not only the greenest road in the United States, but possibly the world.
Click here to read more.
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Make Sure You're Prepared for 2013
 Register now for the next FREE AIB webinar "Getting Ready for the 2013 Competition" to be held Thursday, October 18 at
2 p.m. EDT. This webinar is sponsored by BioWorks. Contest coordinator Jack Clasen provides an overview of the America in Bloom program with helpful suggestions on how to get started. Topics include a brief introduction to the program, a quarterly calendar of how to prepare for the contest, and tips on gaining community support. This webinar is especially helpful for those in your community who are not familiar with AIB as well as those who are coordinating the local effort. Click here to register. |
Adding Plants to the Playground
 How do you get children to love plants? One way is to make sure they are exposed to them on a regular basis. And what better place to open their eyes to plant life than adding them to the playgrounds they're already patronizing.
Click here for ideas on how to incorporate nature into playgrounds.
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New Community Beautification Grant
 What makes a good community great? One that has green spaces for families, friends, neighbors, and community members to enjoy. Unfortunately, the funding to maintain public green spaces can be one of the first to get cut or simply forgotten. To help improve outdoor environments like neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and other great spaces, Toro launched "Green Spaces Makes Great Places." This new community grant program awards $15,000 to communities and non-profits to improve landscapes across America.
Click here for more information.
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Autumn Splendor By Marvin Miller, AIB President
 Fall is my favorite time of the year. Being an avid gardener, bicyclist, and nature photographer, I like being outdoors year-round. (As a sign in a bicycle shop I frequent says, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.") But autumn is a special time of the year, as it is when nature puts on her grand show. Click here to read more. |
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Planting Pride Photo Contest: Capturing the Spirit of America in Bloom
 Brought to you by GIE Media's Horticultural GroupPhotographers can showcase their talents by participating in the first-ever "Planting Pride Photo Contest: Capturing the Spirit of America in Bloom." This contest, sponsored by America in Bloom and GIE Media, will showcase efforts to beautify and improve communities. Photos will be categorized into seven criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation, overall impression, and community involvement. Click here for more information. |
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Have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, LKunkle@ofa.org.
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