Daily Press file photo Escanaba Mayor Mark Ammel, far right, speaks during a visit by America in Bloom advisors to Escanaba this summer.

ESCANABA — An effort to beautify downtown Escanaba received recognition recently. Top honors for the 2022 America in Bloom National Awards Program were announced at the annual symposium and awards celebration held in St. Louis, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Escanaba received special recognition for its landscaped areas from its advisors. Barbara Vincentsen and Alexandra Torres, AIB advisors, spent two days in the summer touring the community, meeting municipal officials, residents, and volunteers. All participants were evaluated on seven criteria: community vitality, overall impression, environmental efforts, heritage celebration, urban forestry, landscaped areas, and flowers.

America in Bloom is the only national

awards program that sends specially trained advisors to personally visit participants. In addition, each participant receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.

“America in Bloom is helping communities of all sizes achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year’s group is remarkable. These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live, work, and visit. Congratulations to Escanaba for the excellent work making your community more beautiful and vibrant,” said America in Bloom Executive Director Laura Kunkle.

To date, more than 280 communities from 43 states have participated in the program.