Garland has just pocketed one of the top honors Texas can bestow on its cities for keeping things spick and span. The city has scored a win in the annual Governor's Community Achievement Awards, a coveted nod from Keep Texas Beautiful that celebrates the state's most pristine communities. Garland is set to bag a hefty $310,000 prize for a landscaping project to beautify a state road, plus a shiny new plaque to show off its achievement, according to the City of Garland.
The cash isn't just to spend willy-nilly. It's earmarked for a specific collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation to spruce up a piece of land along a state road. They'll get to officially strut their stuff, too, with a cast aluminum plaque that'll be placed somewhere all can see to proudly proclaim their win.
This award isn't just handed out like candy on Halloween. It's the result of a strenuous competition, where communities from across Texas go head to head to showcase their commitment to the environment in seven categories. These range from public awareness to litter law enforcement. And the judges aren't just anybody; they're a diverse group of hotshots from multiple sectors, making the judging as tough as nails.
Garland was among the ten communities that managed to impress this year, landing a spot alongside other towns like Argyle and Pearland. It's no small feat, considering these towns have to cater to intensely scrutinize their environmental programs just to even stand a chance. Each victor not only earns bragging rights but also a landscaping award proportionate to their population size.
