It takes much more than a few marigolds to win a Community Greening Award from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and 15 gardens across Pennsylvania have done it!

At its third annual Summit in Harrisburg on September 20, KPB named 15 gardens as valuable contributors to the aesthetics, sustainability and public enjoyment of their respective communities.

As the official state affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful organization, KPB embraces specific goals for litter control, beautification, and proper waste handling throughout Pennsylvania’s natural and community environments. In fulfillment of this mission, KPB launched its community enhancement recognition program to encourage individual and group participation in enhancement projects.

The 2006 awards program, which was developed with the help of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, recognized “Community Greening” projects.

Gardens across the Commonwealth were nominated. Some were designed, constructed and maintained by Garden Clubs, Environmental Advisory Councils or community volunteers. Others were the dream gardens of individuals. All of the winning gardens were the result of many hours of hard work and loving attention.

Trained evaluators measured the green spaces against strict criteria that were developed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, including: horticultural practice and maintenance; variety and suitability of plants; use of color and texture; creative use of space, design and total visual effect. The winning gardens all met or exceeded these criteria.

“Receiving the KPB Community Greening Award is an accomplishment that any gardener or community should be proud of,” said Julia Marano, Executive Director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “It is the collective effort of residents and local businesses that makes the difference between a vibrant community with a great quality of life and a declining area.”

The following gardens and green spaces received the 2006 KPB Greening Award:

· Brodheadsville – Adopt & Beautify Garden, Routes 209/115

· Clarion -- Peace Garden Route 322/Clarion River

· Collegeville – Borough Hall Garden

· Fairview – Buseck Community Park

· Harrisburg – Capital Area Greenbelt Five Senses Garden

· Harrisburg – Fairville Park Rain Garden

· Hatboro – Welcome to Hatboro Sign Landscaping

· Langhorne – Richardson House Community Garden

· McKeesport – Renziehausen Park Arboretum & Rose Garden

· Palmerton – Palmerton Borough Park

· Phoenixville – Driver Perennial Garden

· Pottstown – Pottsgrove Manor Colonial Revival Garden

· Pottsville – Bunker Hill Playground Children’s Garden

· Springfield – Smedley Park Teaching Gardens (Delaware County)

· Stroudsburg – Patricia Hoot Kresge Community Garden

For more information about the program, nomination forms for the 2007 awards or to volunteer your help with garden evaluations, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org or contact Barbara Van Clief, Pennsylvania Resources Council, 3606 Providence Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073, 610-353-1555 ext 221 or send email to: vanclief@prc.org .

9/22/2006