
Beautification Commission

About Us
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 and Goals
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
What Does Beautification Mean?

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.
Inspiring Beautification Through Awards
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:
- 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.
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.
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.


Promoting Environmental Sustainability & Advocacy

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.
Educating the Community About Beautification Resources & Best Practices
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
Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation
Master Gardeners of Northern, VA
Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria
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.
Get Involved!
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.
Press
2022 beautification awards
2018 Beautification Awards
Archived Meeting Information
- Archived Meeting information
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


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
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.