Fayetteville prepares to compete again in American in Bloom beauty competition
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008
Flowers are being planted, walls are being washed and repainted and trash is being picked up in preparation for Fayetteville's beauty contest. The Fayetteville in Bloom Committee is preparing to participate again in the nationwide beautification and community involvement program, America in Bloom.
The committee is making preparations now for the judging which will take place on June 21 and 22. Communities are evaluated based on floral displays, environmental awareness, landscaped areas, tidiness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, turf and groundcovers and community involvement. Fayetteville was the national champion in its population category in 2002, 2004 and 2006. In 2003, 2005 and 2007 the city was unable to compete nationally, but competed internationally and won high marks for landscaped areas, the Blair Library, and environmental awareness efforts.
In 2008, the Fayetteville In Bloom Committee hopes to renew its title as national champion. Matthew Petty, a member of the Fayetteville in Bloom Committee, said the committee is currently working to rewrite the book that explains all of the beautification and involvement efforts. The book is shown to the judges to highlight the city's efforts throughout the year.
"It's 50 pages and talks about everything happening in Fayetteville related to the eight judging criteria," he said. "We're also working on a Web site that will have everything the book has plus more up-to-date stuff since the book is only published once a year."
Some of the beautification efforts this year included the "Plant the Town Red "initiative in February, which urged business and home owners to plant red flowers and vegetation.
The committee also donated 30, 000 daffodil bulbs to local schools and helped plant them.
A graffiti removal program was started to provide materials to businesses so they can clean up their walls after being vandalized; the program was turned over to Woodland Junior High. Students have volunteered to continue the efforts to clean up graffiti around the city.
Another project that will contribute to the beautification efforts is the "Tower of Flowers."
Hanging plants were put on every floor of the south side of Hillcrest Towers on Center Street. That program is being taken over by the Housing Authority, Petty said.
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