BEAUTIFICATION BOARD PROJECTS

COURTHOUSE SQUARE BEAUTIFICATION      

In a cooperative effort with the City of Athens, the Beautification Board has placed large pots of flowers and beautiful benches around the Courthouse Square.  Several of these benches and flower pots were purchased with donations made in honor or memory of a loved one, or in the name of a local business.  It is hoped that the additional touches of beauty and the places of rest provided by the benches will encourage increased activity around the square.  With the increase of tourism events around the square, this program is very well timed! 

BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS - BUSINESSES, INDUSTRY, AND CHURCHES

Periodically throughout the year, the Athens-Limestone Beautification Board judges area businesses, industries, government facilities, and churches on cleanliness, beauty, and contribution to green space.  Winning businesses receive a sign to place on their premises for one year, at which time the property is reassessed.  If standards are met, the sign may remain.  Additional signs are being added to the community each year.  We encourage anyone interested in being considered for a Beautification Award to contact us.

YARD OF THE WEEK:

Homes are judged by nomination only.  The City of Athens is divided into 8 sections, and beginning in June each year the homes in one section per week are judged.  First and Second Place Award signs are placed in the winning yards until the next week’s judging takes place.  Focus is placed on plant and grass health, pruning, mowing, design, proper weeding, as well as special or innovative features and general overall impression. 

County Homes Added to Judging:  Homes in Limestone County may be nominated for judging beginning in 2008.  One week during the Yard of the Week program, county homes will be judged and signs placed for one week.  We welcome you to call us with home you believe are worthy of this award.

 To nominate a home (you may nominate your own) contact us.

TRIANGLE BEAUTIFICATION:

Beautification Board members, as well as garden clubs and master gardeners have landscaped and continue to maintain triangles on two main highways through Athens.  The Beautification Board oversees this program.  Flowers, shrubs, fertilizers, chemicals, and other necessary items are purchased with board funds.

CEMETERY BEAUTIFICATION: 

Five city cemeteries and various county cemeteries have been made more beautiful through the work of these volunteers. Trees, flowers, and hedges have been added to several cemeteries and future work is planned at others as funding allows. This program is partially funded from grants and contributions to the Beautification Memorial Fund  (see below) established by the Beautification Board.  Contact us for information.  Please check out the beautiful entrance to Roselawn Cemetery on Hwy. 31.  These wonderful improvements were made through memorial donations and an ADECA Grant.

These photos show just some of the beautiful improvements made to Roselawn Cemetery's Hwy. 31 entrance.  Additionally, several trees grace the cemetery along Hwy. 31 and on the median in the cemetery.  These improvements were made with Beautification Memorial Funds and an ADECA grant, and through the hard work of the Beautification Board, Ben Wiley and the Cemeteries, Parks, and Recreation Department, and John Cole.

BEAUTIFICATION MEMORIAL FUND:  

Individuals may make a donation to this fund in honor or in memory of a loved one.  The funds received are used to beautify the city cemetery of your choosing.   When donations for an individual have exceeded $50, the honoree's name is placed on a plaque at City Hall.  This is an opportunity to make a long term investment in the beauty of our cemeteries and the City of Athens.

WELCOME TO ATHENS SIGNS: 

Four Welcome to Athens signs were purchased, installed, and landscaped at the expense of this board. Volunteers continue the upkeep of these recently refurbished signs and surrounding grounds through tasks such as weeding, trimming and maintaining plants and shrubs, and cleaning and waxing the signs as needed.  The Beautification Board provides funding to allow a landscaper to mow these four areas.  Funds are raised through the annual Dogwood Festival.

ANNUAL DOGWOOD FESTIVAL: 

The Beautification Board gives back to the community during each April. Concerts, Fashion Show, Dogwood Festival on the Square,  and other activities take place to bring the community together as we celebrate spring with the blooming of the Dogwoods.   This is the Beautification Board's largest fundraiser each year.  Proceeds support the work of this board throughout the year.  The continuation of these projects is directly affected by the amount of money raised during this festival.    Check Calendar for upcoming event information.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS: 

The Beautification Board recognizes businesses or individuals that have made a major contribution to improving the appearance of Limestone County.  This could be the renovation of a building, a major landscape project, or other similar contribution.  If you would like to call the board's attention to the contribution of an individual or business, just contact us!

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION: 

The A-L Beautification Board celebrates Arbor Day each year by providing Arbor Day materials to the 4th grades at each city and county school. Other celebrations, such as tree plantings, also take place.

SPEAKERS AVAILABLE:  

KALB will provide a speaker for your class, meeting, or other event on the topics of litter, recycling, and gardening, composting, and beautification.   Our Recycling Coordinator has lots of items made from recycled materials that fascinate the kids.  We'll gear our presentation to your age group.  Contact us with a date and your topic of interest.  We love to educate Limestone County citizens.