America in Bloom award results announced

Top honors for the 2022 America in Bloom National Awards Program were announced at the annual symposium and awards celebration held in St. Louis, Sept. 29 - Oct. 1.

All participating communities were evaluated on seven criteria: community vitality, flowers, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage celebration and overall impression. America in Bloom sends specially trained Advisors to personally visit participants. In addition, each community receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.

The following awards were announced: population category winners, outstanding achievement awards, special awards, community champion and YouTube video award.

Population category winners are:

Community                       Population Category

Castle Rock, WA                Under 2,000

Lewes, DE                          2,000 – 5,000

Brewton, AL                        5,000 – 11,000

Coshocton, OH                  11,000 – 14,000

Punta Gorda, FL                14,000 – 18,000

Venice, FL                          18,000 – 23,000

Greenwood, SC                  23,000 – 35,000

Dubuque, IA                       Over 35,000

Outstanding Achievement Award winners are:

Community                       Award

Orion Township, MI           Community Vitality

Castle Rock, WA               Flowers

Hawthorn Woods, IL          Landscaped Areas

Greendale, IN                    Urban Forestry

Edmonston, MD                Environmental Efforts

Calabasas, CA                  Overall Impression

Carthage, MO                   Celebrating Heritage

Pound Ridge, NY              Community Involvement

Special Award winners are:

Community                           Award

Portsmouth, OH                     Coolest Place for Kids

Coshocton, OH                      Eye-Popping Pots – Best Use of Containers in the Landscape

Dyer, IN                                  Water Warriors – Best Example of Protecting Water Resources

Beattyville, KY                        Life of the Party – Best Community Celebration

Venice, FL                              Catching Community Spirit – Digital & Social Media Communications

Omaha, NE                             Innovation in Action – Most Impressive New Project or Program

Logan, OH                              Bee Happy – Best Pollinator Habitat

Dubuque, IA                            America in Bloom/All-America Selections Showcase Garden

Castle Rock, WA                     Best Youth Gardening Program

Edmonston, MD                      Best Community Garden Program

Greenwood, SC                      Coolest Downtown

Omaha, NE                             Best Public Art Program

Westchester, IL                       Best Adaptive Reuse Project

Venice, FL                               Alive with Flowers – Sunbeam Social Media Award

Dwight Lund Community Champion Award: Sue Burke, Portsmouth, Ohio.

YouTube video award: Logan, Ohio

To date, more than 280 communities from 43 states have participated in the program and more than 22 million people have been touched by it. Registrations for the 2023 national awards program can be submitted until February 28, 2023. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.