Civic Pride awards to be announced this week

The City of Jackson has celebrated its Civic Pride awards and their winners for nearly 30 years, and that tradition is set to continue next week at City Hall.

“We’re having a reception on Friday, July 19, at 11 a.m. for our winners and nominees,” said Christi David, the parks manager for the City of Jackson.

Civic Pride awards honor businesses and residents who “take exceptional care in their properties, which includes keeping yards well kept, beautiful landscaping and/or hardscape, and overall curb appeal.”

A group of Master Gardeners from the local area were put together to judge the nominations that were submitted throughout the month of May and June.

This year, there are separate categories for businesses, residents, schools and churches and other religious institutions with a winner being named and five honorable mentions announced as well.

“We’re treating this announcement like the Grammys, so if you’ve been invited, you could be the winner,” David said. “We’ll announce the winners and honor them as well as the honorable mentions at the reception here at City Hall.”

David said she rode around with the Master Gardeners and was captivated hearing them discuss different subtle aspects of lawn care as they looked at each nominee.

“I even learned a few lessons myself about lawn maintenance that I didn’t know beforehand,” David said. “Like when you put mulch around a tree, you’re not supposed to put the mulch directly on the tree because that suffocates it.

“You’re supposed to leave some breathing room for the tree so that it can thrive.”

There will also be an environmental stewardship award given to the individual, company or organization that appears to go out of their way to better the planet through conservation in some way.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news