Toledo wins national award for flowers

10/9/2008

Toledo has won national accolades for its greenery from America in Bloom, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification.

The organization listed Toledo as the winner on its Web site. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner announced the award Thursday afternoon during a news conference at Old West End Commons.

Toledo was the only city with more than 100,000 people to enter the contest this year but that did not guarantee any honors in that category from the organization.

Toledo was announced as a population category winner and recognized for its "heritage preservation," American in Bloom said.

In the friendly competition, communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and ground cover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation, and community involvement.

Two volunteers from the organization toured Toledo for five days in July.

Several Toledo Area Metroparks, the Maumee riverfront, the Toledo Museum of Art, the University of Toledo, Woodlawn Cemetery, Fifth Third Field, and several neighborhoods were on the judges itinerary.

Sandusky won the 2004 first-place showing in the America in Bloom Awards for cities between 25,001 and 50,000 people.