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America in Bloom announced its 2026 national award winners at its annual symposium and awards celebration in the Washington, D.C., area, held Sept. 24–26. The awards recognize participating communities across population categories and for achievements in areas including forestry, floral displays and community involvement.
The population category winners were Shawnee Hills, Ohio (under 1,350 residents); Castle Rock, Washington (1,350–2,500); Lakeside, Ohio (2,500–3,300); Lewes, Delaware (3,330–3,800); Lewisburg, West Virginia (3,800–5,800); and Logan, Ohio (5,800–7,700). The source lists the population bands as given; it does not explain the gap between 3,300 and 3,330.
The remaining population winners were Hawthorn Woods, Illinois (7,700–15,500); Washington, Missouri (15,500–23,000); Foley, Alabama (23,000–33,000); and College Park, Maryland (over 33,000). In outstanding achievement awards, Orion Township, Michigan, received Community Vitality; Whitehouse, Ohio, Floral Impact; Lewes, Landscaped Area; Edmonston, Maryland, Urban Forestry; Tavares, Florida, Environmental Initiatives; Holly, Michigan, Celebrating Heritage; Eustis, Florida, Overall Impression; and Bay View, Michigan, Community Involvement.
Special awards recognized projects and programs across the country. Castle Rock won for its hanging basket program and received the Sunfinity Sunflower Award; Edmonston was recognized for native plants; Washington for container landscaping; and Tavares for gateways. Other winners included Royal Oak, Michigan, for its downtown; Ortonville, Michigan, for Bloom Equity; Lakeside for Hidden Gem; Hawthorn Woods for its clean-up program; College Park for a collaborative project; and Havre de Grace, Maryland, for youth involvement. The full list also includes awards for seasonal beauty, social media, arts in public spaces, pocket parks, therapeutic gardening, rural impact and healthy community design.
How Local Projects Were Recognized
The awards highlight how participating communities approach public spaces and civic life, from planting and landscaping to heritage, youth involvement and environmental efforts. The categories make the program’s recognition broader than floral displays alone, while the population divisions let communities of different sizes receive awards within their respective bands.
America in Bloom says each participant is evaluated by trained Advisors who visit in person and receives a written evaluation intended to guide future improvements. That process gives the awards a practical dimension: communities can use the feedback to identify strengths and areas to work on, although the source does not report what specific changes winners plan to make.
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How America in Bloom Evaluates Communities
America in Bloom is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes beautification and community involvement through flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements. It offers educational programs, resources and a competition among participating communities, according to the source report.
Participants were evaluated against eight criteria: community vitality, floral impact, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental initiatives, heritage celebration, overall impression and community involvement. The organization describes its program as the only national awards program to send specially trained Advisors to visit participants; that distinction is attributed to America in Bloom.
The organization reports that more than 440 communities in 44 states have participated to date, and says the program has reached more than 24 million people. The report does not provide a measurement method or time period for the reach figure.
“Each community receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.”
— America in Bloom, as described in the Greenhouse Grower report
Details Beyond the Winners List
The announcement names award recipients but does not provide judges’ comments, scoring, or detailed explanations for individual selections. It also does not say how many communities entered the 2026 program or describe specific outcomes from the visits and written evaluations. The source’s population bands include a gap between 3,300 and 3,330, which it does not explain.
Registration Opens Through February
America in Bloom says registrations for its 2027 national program may be submitted through Feb. 28, 2027. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations and recognized neighborhoods within large cities. The announcement does not give further dates for the 2027 evaluation visits or awards event.
Key Questions
When and where were the 2026 America in Bloom winners announced?
They were announced at the organization’s annual Symposium & Awards Celebration in the Washington, D.C., area, held Sept. 24–26, 2026.
Which community won the largest population category?
College Park, Maryland, won the category for communities with more than 33,000 residents.
What criteria were used to evaluate participants?
The eight criteria were community vitality, floral impact, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental initiatives, heritage celebration, overall impression and community involvement.
Who received the Dwight Lund Community Champion Award?
Warren Golde of Lewes, Delaware, received the 2026 Dwight Lund Community Champion Award.
What is the deadline to register for the 2027 program?
Registrations may be submitted through Feb. 28, 2027. Eligible participants include communities, campuses, business districts, military installations and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.
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