JACKSON, Tenn. – Nominations for the 2021 Mayor’s Civic Pride Awards are open to the public.
The annual Mayor’s Civic Pride Awards recognize individuals that take exceptional care in their properties, which includes keeping yards well kept, beautiful landscaping and/or hardscape, and overall curb appeal.
“We hope that if people know about this program and that they can be recognized for their hard work, it may inspire them to improve their own area,” said City of Jackson, TN Groundskeeping Superintendent J.D. Sims. “We hope it can form a chain reaction that sweeps through the city to make it even more beautiful.”
A group of Master Gardeners will judge this year’s Civic Pride nomination entries in which five individual awards will be given from five areas within the city as well as five honorable mentions. There will also be a Commercial and Educational Institution category with five awards given and three honorable mentions.
An Environmental Stewardship award will also be presented to an individual, company or organization that goes out of their way to do something that will better the planet such as a student instituting a recycling program at their school; a person who organizes regular litter pick-ups; a company that changes operating procedures to go greener and protect our planet.
“We are excited to bring the Civic Pride Awards back to our citizens and business community,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “There are Jacksonians who take much pride in their yards and neighborhoods, and we want to give them the opportunity to showcase it.”
Nominations forms and other information can be found by visiting http://civicpride.jacksontn.gov.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The total exterior appearance of the property as viewed from the street is evaluated. General criteria include the overall appearance, tidiness and neatness of the front of the property as evidenced by pruned plantings, defined lawns, and visually appealing borders & flowerbeds. Each of the following areas is rated on a 30 point scale and then totaled for an overall score (90 maximum points).
LAWN & HARD SURFACES: Grass should be healthy with minimal discoloration, bare spots, or weeds. Grass shall be mowed, and edged/trimmed around foundations, fences, and hard surfaces like sidewalks. Walkways and driveways should be clean (including trash containers or yard products removed from view).
LANDSCAPE & FLOWER BEDS: Beds should be weed free, and flowers should be dead-headed. Seasonal color by incorporating flowering annuals in encouraged. Dead plants should be removed, and shrubs and trees should be properly pruned. Landscape should be neat, and balanced with plantings in scale with the surroundings and complimentary to setting.
AESTHETICS: The overall look of landscaping (formal versus informal, use of color and textures, garden art) is important. The front entryway should be inviting, with original and creative touches to show personality (hanging baskets, pots, yard art, bird feeders, etc.)
Nomination Cutoff: May 31, 2021
Judging: June 1-8, 2021