Translate
About Us
The Beautification Commission represents citizens' values in City beautification matters and coordinates projects to encourage and achieve beautification. The Commission sponsors the Alexandria Beautification Commission Awards each year.
What is Beautification?
Improvements to a community encompassing landscaping, architecture, and sustainable environmental practices creating a healthier community and higher quality of life.
Mission
The Alexandria Beautification Commission promotes beautification of the City through advocacy, education and the celebration of community beautification efforts.
Meeting Information
The Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month, at 7:30 pm., Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. For additional information, call Oscar Mendoza, Division Chief, at 703.746.4667. For a list of vacancies, to submit an application or for additional information, visit Boards & Commissions.
- Membership Roster - Last updated May 2022
- For information on membership requirements, click here.
- FOIA Training Information, Click here.
Meeting Schedule
Archived Meeting Information
- Archived Meeting information
Activities
- Makes recommendations to City Council and City Departments concerning landscape aesthetic improvements to the City's right-of-ways and City Properties
- Coordinates with City staff and community groups to organize clean-ups and invasive plant removal from public spaces
- Coordinates with City staff to transform vacant lots in the City into usable community spaces
- Sponsors a series of programs to education residents of Alexandria on matters of beautification
- Sponsors the Alexandria Beautification Awards to recognize residences, businesses, institutions, and public properties that beautify their surroundings through landscaping, architecture, maintenance, and litter clean-up
- Supports activities and policies to increase the City's Tree Canopy
Alexandria Beautification Awards
The Commission sponsors the annual Alexandria Beautification Awards each fall. These awards recognize residents, businesses, and community efforts to contribute to the beautification of their neighborhoods and public vistas. Each year the Commission canvases the City in search of properties that have improved their surroundings through landscape, architecture, maintenance, and other efforts. The Commission also actively solicits award nominations from the public. The Commission is pleased to announce the 2022 Beautification Award Winners!
Awards are given in six categories:
- Excellence in Architecture
- Excellence in Sustainable Design
- Green Practices in Beautification
- Community Beautification
- Residential Beautification
- Commercial Beautification
For additional information, view the Beautification Awards Criteria applicable to all nominations.
2022 Community Award Winners
Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Dr.)
The Commission greatly appreciates the planting and nurturing of new native trees that enhances the park for future generations. The private-public collaboration also provides an excellent model for other community projects to emulate.
Special Thanks to:
- Bonnie Petry
- Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria
- Various Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) divisions within the City - Natural Lands Management, Urban Forestry, Park Maintenance, Park Planning, and The PARKnership Program.
The Telegraph & Duke Meadow Complex (St. Interchange)
Through years of collective effort this overlooked patch of land has been transformed into a 5-acre bastion of carbon sequestration and native plant biodiversity. The Beautification Commission recognizes the hard work put into this project and greatly appreciates the ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the interchange.
Special Thanks to:
- Rod Simmons, Natural Resource Manager of the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) Natural Lands Management division
The Visitors Center Garden at the Ramsay House (221 King St.)
The revitalization of the garden focusing on historical details and the inclusion of plants, benches, and hardscape elements works wonderfully together. The private-public collaboration was key to the success and provides an excellent model for other community projects to emulate.
Special Thanks to:
- The Garden Club of Alexandria
- The Alexandria Visitor Center
- Visit Alexandria
- Various Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) divisions within the City
- Various grantors and private contributions
2022 Residential Award Winners
605 N Mansfield St.
Recognized for its transformation from a traditional sod lawn to the beautiful large beds, planting, integrated new stone retaining wall, colorful blooms and foliage.
498 N. Latham St.
Recognized for the two gorgeous shade trees, curb plantings, and a no mow area filled with native perennials.
2207 Ivor Ln.
Recognized for how the plantings compliment each other based upon size, scale and height, the integration of the rock wall and how your plantings soften the walkway and foundation.
1007 Vassar Rd.
Recognized for the use of native and sustainable plants, no-mow areas and your general ecological and sustainable approach.
1316 Cleveland St.
Recognized for the use of plantings, scale, colors, and integration of your driveway into the design of your yard.
414 Crown View Dr.
Recognized for the use of plantings, scale, and design.
220 E. Custis Ave.
Recognized for how it beautifully compliments your house and for its mix of flowers, shrubs and trees.
518 N Alfred St.
Recognized for the use of plantings, design, and how they are continually visually interesting all year long.
322 N Columbus St
Recognized for impeccably maintained property with quaint flower boxes that change with the season and compliment your design elements.
2008 - 2021 Beautification Award Winners
2008 - 2021 Beautification Award Winners
- 2021 Beautification Award Winners
- 2019 Beautification Award Winners
- 2018 Beautification Award Winners
- 2017 Beautification Award Winners
- 2016 Beautification Award Winners
- 2015 Beautification Award Winners
- 2014 Beautification Award Winners
- 2013 Beautification Award Winners
- 2012 Beautification Award Winners
- 2011 Beautification Award Winners
- 2010 Beautification Award Winners
- 2009 Beautification Award Winners
- 2008 Beautification Award Winners
Contact Us
If you would like to contact us about beautification issues and opportunities, please send your correspondence to:
The Alexandria Beautification Commission
2900-A Business Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22314
Email: AlexandriaBeautification@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaBeautification/
Special Projects
- Median Beautification & Sustainability
On Friday, June 15, the Alexandria Beautification Commission saw a year's worth of planning and working with the City of Alexandria come to fruition with the installation of native and sustainable plant material in three medians at the heavily trafficked intersection of King St., Quaker Ln and Braddock Rd. The Commission initiated the pilot median improvement project in 2017 to make the City’s medians both more attractive and more sustainable.The Commission recommended the use of low maintenance, no mow areas in City medians that utilize native and sustainable shrubs and perennial plants. For the past year, the Beautification Commission has been working with the City of Alexandria’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities to develop a cohesive landscaping plan for the medians which they hope can serve as a model for beautification of medians throughout the City. Together, their efforts have resulted in a beautiful and well-designed sustainable public space at a busy intersection.
Press
- 2018 Beautification Awards