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Community Effort AwardsTOWN OF CHEROKEE 
The Alfalfa County town of Cherokee already had a good thing going with its proximity to the Great Salt Plains State Park, a premier birdwatching site, but too many tourists were bypassing the town. Seven years ago, they attacked that challenge head-on with a long-range plan. The resulting Cherokee 
Nature Park today is a major tourist destination itself.
Assembling a multitude of agencies, volunteers and funding, the impact of the park already has been positive, diverse and lasting. It has been so successful that plans are afoot to expand the park by 67 acres. It now stands as the centerpiece of the town's long-term strategy for survival and growth. For dramatically demonstrating that "nature tourism" can create a multitude of economic, environmental and public health benefits, the Cherokee Nature Park is good news for humans AND wildlife in Oklahoma. Population 2,000 to 10,000: TOWN OF NEWKIRK 
With the ingenious idea to pair civic groups with elementary school classes, the Newkirk Junior Main Street students have found a winning formula for an annual community clean-up that our judges called "strong" and "very impressive."
This April, the 165 volunteers spent more than 250 hours bagging 124 bags of trash and were treated to free hot dogs and hamburgers as a thank you. Also, throughout the year, the Rotarians and the Lions worked to keep Highway 77 clean, and Newkirk Main Street brought 150 women to a special downtown clean-up called "Company's Coming."
With sweeping results year after year, the town of Newkirk's spring clean-up sets a sparkling standard for all and inspires good news for clean communities across Oklahoma. Population 10,000 to 25,000: CITY OF GUYMON 
Visitors arriving in Guymon on five different highways now are treated to a sight that is as abundant in history as it is in beauty, thanks to people who saw a barren triangle of land, envisioned a park, and then involved the whole community to make it a reality. Designed to commemorate Guymon's 100th anniversary, Centennial Park is the result of $180,000 of donated cash and materials, 
and thousands of hours of labor that ended up involving most of the community. Bedecked with flags, a pedestal clock, a pumpjack, a bandstand and other objects, it is as much a march through Guymon's history as it is a focal point for peace and beauty.
The judges hail the project as a wonderful way to celebrate a community's history. We praise Guymon's Centennial Park for being a beautiful crossroads of pride and good news for Oklahoma. Population greater than 25,000 to 50,000: ARDMORE BEAUTIFICATION COUNCIL 
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. 
 
 
 
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