The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced 34 winners of its 24th annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) community beautification awards and honored 17 amateur photographers in the 19th Annual Amateur Photography Contest. More than twenty years ago, concerned volunteers formed the KMCB Task Force to work with the County to develop beautification projects and anti-litter and recycling programs. The group also conducts public education to change citizen attitudes about littering and graffiti.

The beautification contest is open to community groups, businesses, public institutions and other organizations undertaking landscaping projects that enhance the appearance of commonly owned sections of commercial or residential properties. Landscaping along County roadsides, medians or other public locations is also eligible for awards.

KMCB awarded Level I prizes for new projects initiated between fall 2009 and spring 2010, while Level II prizes were awarded to established projects planted prior to fall 2009.

Winners of the Beautification Awards are:

CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks:

Level I

Award of Excellence: College Gardens Park, joint project of City of Rockville, CPJ Associations, Slater Associates and F&F Landscaping, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Park Road Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville

Award of Excellence: Veirs Mill Road/Atlantic Avenue Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville, Rockville

Level II

Award of Excellence: Rockville Town Square, The Brickman Group, Rockville

COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by community residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs, or civic associations.

Level II

Award of Merit: Wheaton Forest Civic Association, Wheaton

Award of Distinction: Entrance to College Gardens, Garden Club of College Gardens, Rockville

Award of Excellence: HTCA Triangle Garden, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Rockshire Entryway, Rockshire Garden Club, Rockville

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors.

Level II

Award of Distinction: Westlake Towers Condominiums, Dunigan Law & Landscape, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Maplewood Park Place, Rupert Landscape, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Potomac Crest Homeowners Association, The Brickman Group, Potomac

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

Level II

Award of Excellence: Capital Gateway, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Marriott Corporate Headquarters, The Brickman Group, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Hughes Network, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Bethesda Row, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Washingtonian Center, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Silver Spring Metro Plaza, Ruppert Landscape, Silver Spring

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

Level I

Award of Distinction: Montgomery General Hospital Thrift Shop Butterfly Garden, Seedling Garden Club, Olney

Level II

Award of Distinction: Aspen Hill Library Gardens, Aspen Hill Garden Club, Rockville

Award of Distinction: Montgomery County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg

Award of Excellence: Davis Library, Bethesda Community Garden Club, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Montgomery County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at the Derwood Agricultural Farm Park, Derwood

ENVIRONMENTAL for wildlife habitant, wildflower plantings, wetlands plantings and organic plantings:

Level I

Award of Excellence: Rockville High School Conservation Landscape, joint project of Rockville High School Horticulture Students, Montgomery County DEP, City of Rockville Department of Environmental Services, Master Gardeners, Rockville

Level II

Award of Excellence: Cambridge Walk II Homeowner’s Association, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Fallsgrove Village Center, bioretention strips, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Excellence: The Tower Companies and Lerner Enterprises – 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard, The Brickman Group, Rockville

*YOUTH for outdoor projects by an individual or group, ages 18 or younger. Adult supervision is permitted, but youth must complete the majority of a project:

Level II

Award of Distinction: Montgomery County Men’s Emergency Shelter, KidzCare USA, Inc., Rockville

SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE (FOR THREE-TIME WINNERS) for awards to previous triple winners of the Award of Excellence:

First Year/ Commercial Retail: Human Genome Sciences, Ruppert Landscape, North Potomac

First Year/ Community Non-Professional: Kenwood Pocket Park, Kenwood Garden Club, Chevy Chase

First Year/ Public/Institutional: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth, Bethesda

Third Year/ Community Professional: The Carleton, Ruppert Landscape, Chevy Chase

Fourth Year/ Community Professional: Chelsea Tower, Dunigan Lawn & Landscape Inc., Bethesda

GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD WINNER

Fifth Year/ Public/Institutional: Potomac Community Library, Potomac Village Garden Club, Potomac

For the Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos were judged on effective composition, originality, technique, interest and relevance of the subject matter. This year there were 45 entries.

Photography contest winners are:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more persons involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure, activity, productivity or community service.

First: “Children Souls” Eliana Patricia Acevedo Cortes, Rockville

Second: “Boys at Blackhill’s Lake” Diane Jackson, Gaithersburg

Third: “Running the Rapids” Jim Holland, Brookeville

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY DAY – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during daytime hours.

First: “Blue Heron at Great Falls” Nancy Brun, Rockville

Second: “Snow and Canada Goose” Harry Hai He, Gaithersburg

Third: “Shadows on the Dock” Howard Clark, Montgomery Village

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

First: “Wheaton Carnival” Elizabeth Ann Koller, Silver Spring

Second: “From On High” Ron Alexander, Gaithersburg

Third: “A Snowing Evening 2010--30 Inches” Alberto Diaz, Chevy Chase

MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANDMARKS – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County of a natural or manmade commonly recognized landmark or scene.

First: “Art Decore – Glen Echo” Mary Rolston, Bethesda

Second: “A Foggy Morning” Ly Truc Hoan, Silver Spring

Third: “Tavern in the Snow” Ina Kay Ford, Rockville

MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more persons at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of the County.

First: “After Snow” De Hou Yang, Wheaton

Second: “My Briggs Chaney ICC” Ivana Miranda, Silver Spring 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH – Photos by those under the age of 18.

First: “The Vast of the Potomac” Keegan Barber, Potomac

Second: “A Circuitous Way Up” Nitesh Donti, Boyds

Third: “Mr. Mallard Takes a Swim” Zachary Calcagno, Silver Spring

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Media Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6507
Program Contact: Tom Pogue, 240-777-7171