A comprehensive 13-point plan of attack, strong and steady media exposure, eye-catching print materials and a website all added up to an enthusiastic "Wow!" from our judges for Ardmore and its Great American Cleanup this year.

Six months of careful planning went into the three-month cleanup campaign. Among the 3,000 volunteers were many first-timers. They cleared nearly six tons of litter and debris, cleaned 30 miles of roadways, and planted over 700 shrubs, trees and flowers.

The projects were cleverly designed to have a lasting effect on the city's beauty and the habits of its citizens. For setting a high standard in planning, results and enthusiasm, the Ardmore Beautification Council's Great American Cleanup is good news for sparkling communities in Oklahoma.