The Alexandria Beautification Commission (ABC) was established by the City to advise City Council and citizens on all matters related to City beautification.

Interested in joining the Alexandria Beautification Commission? Apply here!

OUR MISSION

The Alexandria Beautification Commission (ABC) was established by the City to advise City Council and citizens on all matters related to City beautification.

OUR GOALS

• Inspire beautification through an Awards program
• Promote environmental sustainability through collaboration and engagement with City Council, City staff, and private organizations
• Educate local community on beautification and best practices

The Commission defines “beautification” as improvements to a community including landscaping, architecture, and sustainable environmental practices that create a healthier community and higher quality of life for its residents.

THE 2022 RESIDENTIAL AWARDS PROGRAM

The Alexandria Beautification Commission solicited nominations from residents and Commission members who toured the City looking for candidates who exemplify the creative use of non-invasive plants/native plants, sustainable approaches, and landscape architecture within their gardens.

Residents from across Alexandria's diverse neighborhoods consistently demonstrated how utilizing these gardening techniques delivered beauty, texture, and scale within a garden. This inspires others to enhance the beauty of their properties in an eco-friendly way and speaks to the future of Alexandria as an environmentally sound and dynamic community.  Commission members evaluated homes and residential communities based on criteria including:

• Beautification of the City and neighborhoods through contextual landscaping 
• Utilization of native plant materials
• Inclusion of environmentally sustainable design practices and maintenance

“The individuals who received the 2022 Residential awards recognize they can make a difference within their neighborhoods. Using native plants, meadow areas, and drought tolerant garden approaches, their vision of delivering color, composition, dimension, and beauty is achievable. We applaud their outstanding accomplishments." said Steve Cohen, Beautification Commission Chair enhance curb appeal, attract local pollinators and save water.

See our 2022 Residential Award Winners below!

AWARD CATEGORIES

We encourage residents and businesses to participate in the ABC’s annual awards process whereby residents submit nominations they deem worthy of an award for exceptional beautification efforts across the following six categories:

1. Excellence in Architecture
2. Excellence in Sustainable Design
3. Green Practices in Beautification
4. Community Beautification
5. Residential Beautification
6. Commercial Beautification

For additional information, view the  Beautification Awards Criteria applicable to all nominations.

APPLY FOR AN AWARD!

The Commission encourages citizens to achieve a more beautiful, and livable Alexandria through its Awards Program.  Each year, residences have an opportunity to nominate candidates across the following categories:

• Excellence in Architecture
• Community Beautification
• Residential Beautification
• Commercial Beautification

Special consideration for the utilization of sustainable and green practices, landscaping and landscape architecture that create a healthier community, enjoyable lifestyle, and higher quality of life. For more information and to apply, email us at AlexandriaBeautification@gmail.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The Commission coordinates with the City on projects that involve landscape plans and offers suggestions for landscaping, plant materials, and installation.  In addition, we work with the City to develop a maintenance program for all landscaping installed to ensure continuity of this investment for the future.

The Commission supports sustainable beautification of underutilized spaces in the City in ways that most benefits the community, for example landscaping, improvements such as tree plantings, public art, or installation of recreational equipment.

ADVOCACY

The Commission encourages residents to reach out and share beautification ideas and issues.  Here are areas of advocacy of importance for the Commission:

Green Infrastructure: The Commission supports the development of green infrastructure and storm water management to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Natural Open Space: The Commission supports policies to preserve and expand natural areas within the City. These are natural cooling areas that help offset heat absorbed and radiated by concrete, asphalt, and other materials used in our urban environment. They also mitigate flooding and reduce outflow of polluted water into the Potomac River.

Sustainable Landscaping: The Commission supports the use of native and drought-tolerant plant to beautify our City, along with sustainable landscape maintenance practices to protect our environment. We advocate the cessation of planting invasive species, the removal from our natural areas, and the replacement with native plants. Learn about native plants at Plant Nova Natives.

We strive to provide residents and businesses with the best information and resources possible, and here are key resources Citywide that you’ll find of interest:

NATIVE PLANTS TO NORTHERN VA

Are you interested in planting native in your garden or at your business? Visit Plant Nova Natives for a full listing of Alexandria/NoVA approved plants!

CITYWIDE RESOURCES

• City Landscape Guidelines
• Recommend a Tree Planting
• Alexandria Register of Notable Trees
• Environmental Action Plan 2040
• Eco-City Alexandria
• Earth Day
• Office of Energy Management
• Stormwater Best Management Practices

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING BEAUTIFICATION

ALX Dog Walk

Founders Dog Park

Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation

Green Springs Gardens

Huntley Meadows Park

Master Gardeners of Northern, VA

Old Town Farmers Market

River Farms

Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria

Visit Alexandria

West End Farmers Market

BEAUTIFICATION NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and stay current with all the latest beautification efforts and programs the City has to offer.

MEETING INFORMATION

The Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month, at 7:30 pm., Charles Houston Rec Center, 901 Wythe St.  For additional information, call Oscar Mendoza, Division Chief, at 703.746.4667. 

MEMBERSHIP ROSTER

Membership Roster - Last updated January 2023. Each Member serves a term of two years.

APPLY TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION

We encourage all residents, whether new or having lived in Alexandria for years, to join our efforts to help beautify the City of Alexandria! This commission will give you a great way to meet new people, the opportunity to participate in the beautification of Alexandria, and to stay up to date in what's going on in your community. For a list of vacancies, to submit an application or for additional information, visit  Boards & Commissions. For information on membership requirements, click here.

CONTACT US WITH YOUR IDEAS

We want to hear from the citizens of Alexandria!  Have an idea for a new beautification project or need, please email us at: alexandriabeautification@gmail.com, or send a letter to Alexandria Beautification Commission, 2900-A Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA. 22314.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and stay current with all the latest beautification efforts and programs the City has to offer.

2022 beautification awards

• Zebra Press

2018 Beautification Awards

• Zebra Press
• Alexandria Living Magazine

• Archived Meeting information

• 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.

  Zebra Press Article