Alexandria Beautification Commission Announces 2023 Alexandria Community Beautification Award Recipients

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2023

The Alexandria Beautification Commission is pleased to announce the three winners of the 2023 Alexandria Community Beautification Award:

• The Spire, 2875 North Beauregard Street
  • For providing affordable housing that is beautiful, ecological, and functional.                                                                                                      
• Dale Street Community Garden, 65 Dale Street
  • For maintaining an exceptional space where the community can gather, plant, learn, and harvest sustainably together.                                                                     
• The Platform Alexandria, 1100 North Fayette Street
  • For creating an inviting and inspiring park that replaces industrial space and parking lots with public art and lush space for leisure.

The Commission solicited nominations from residents and Commissioners who toured Alexandria looking for exceptional community projects that contribute to the beautification of the City through cleanups, invasive species removal, landscaping, and environmentally sustainable practices. Throughout the year, the combination of residents, public, private, and non-profit groups continually contribute to a diverse range of projects. These projects enhance our communal spaces by elevating underutilized property, implementing sustainable landscaping, and promoting a healthy and inviting environment. This provides value to all Alexandrians and encourages others to enjoy and invest in the community. Commission members evaluated community projects based on criteria including:

• Beautification of spaces for the benefit of the whole community
• Invasive species removal
• Inclusion of environmentally sustainable design practices
• Commitment to ongoing maintenance

"The 2023 Community Beautification Award winners demonstrated a commitment to public spaces and services that create value for the entire City. Through inspired design, dedication to equity and accessibility, the installment of public art, and the application of sustainable techniques, this year's winners exemplify how community beautification produces positive environmental and social benefits for all of Alexandria. We applaud their outstanding accomplishments." said Steve Cohen, Alexandria Beautification Commission Chair. "It is always inspiring to see how community initiatives supported through public-private collaboration deliver real ecological and civic value," he said.

Please visit the Alexandria Beautification Commission webpage to see the photos of the three award winners from across the City and details of their award-winning projects.

The Alexandria Beautification Commission represents citizens' values in City beautification matters and coordinates projects to encourage and achieve a more beautiful, livable Alexandria. The Commission promotes projects encompassing landscaping, architecture, and sustainable environmental practices creating a healthier community, enjoyable lifestyle, and higher quality of life.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City's Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Oscar.Mendoza@alexandriava.gov or Virginia Relay 711.

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This news item can be found by visiting alexandriava.gov/go/4778