America In Bloom Dishes Out National Awards to Cities Across the Country
October 4, 2022 
Winners from the 2022 America in Bloom (AIB) National Awards Program were announced at AIB’s annual symposium and awards celebration, which was 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 is the only national awards program that 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:
- Castle Rock, WA (Under 2,000 in population)
- 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 (More than 35,000)
Outstanding Achievement Award winners are:
- 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:
- 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, OH
YouTube video award: Logan, OH
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 Feb. 28, 2023. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.
Subscribe to eNewsletter
