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Non-Profit Organizations AwardsTHE OKLA. URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY COUNCIL (annual budgets < $100,000) 
For more than ten years, the Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council has played a vital role in the greening of our urban areas. Often teaming up with the Forestry Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the Council advises and guides the state's urban forestry program.
Through its annual Oklahoma Arbor Week program kick-off at the Capitol, not only are important individual programs honored, but lawmakers and government officials become aware of 
the importance of urban forestry. In the fall, the Council conducts the Oklahoma Urban Forestry Conference for tree professionals, youth educators, city planners and others to meet and share current information on tree issues. Art contests, the Council's "Oklahoma Leaflet" newsletter, and sponsorship of important programs also have an important impact.
For teaming professionals with volunteers to provide extensive public education about the importance of urban trees, the Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council is good news for a beautiful, green and growing Oklahoma. Beautification & Landscaping: IDABEL MAIN STREET Idabel (annual budgets < $100,000) 
If you want to talk about recycling on a grand scale, talk to the folks with the Idabel Main Street program. They stepped in at the last minute to save the town's historic Rouleau ["Roo-LOW"] Hotel from the wrecking ball and helped to turn it into energy-efficient apartments for the elderly.
Built in 1916, the Rouleau, once the center of social and civic activity in Idabel, had been vacant for decades and was badly deteriorated. The Main Street program contacted Southridge, a Kingfisher firm with a good record of successfully converting old structures. A combination of hundreds of volunteer hours over a four- 
year period, the involvement of the Little Dixie Community Action Agency, and a one-point-eight million dollar investment from Southridge have brought life back to what's now called the Rouleau House. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places a year ago.
Our judges say the magnitude and results of this project are amazing. The Idabel Main Street program is good news for historic preservation and restoration in Oklahoma. Education & Promotion: G.M. SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER Bartlesville (annual budgets > $100,000) 
Joggers, bicyclists, skaters and walkers are pausing these days along the 11-mile Pathfinder Parkway trail in Bartlesville to learn about birds, thanks to a well-executed three-year project of the Sutton Avian Research Center there.
Two large signs at the 
entrances to the trail inform patrons of ten additional signs along the route, each highlighting four species grouped by intriguing themes. The signs feature the talents of an award-winning bird artist, engaging and informative text, and range maps for each species. Each sign is attractively presented with high-quality, durable materials.
With support from Conoco-Phillips, the Bartlesville Service League, OSU - Okmulgee, Bartlesville High School, and Service and Technology Corporation, the project wonderfully combines beautification with education. The Sutton Avian Research Center's bird trail is good news taking wing in northeastern Oklahoma. Beautification & Landscaping: OKLAHOMA CITY BEAUTIFUL Oklahoma City (annual budgets > $100,000) 
A successful 22-year program that allowed volunteers to enhance green spaces throughout Oklahoma City was put in jeopardy this past year when the city's Park's Department suffered a major budget cutback and reduction in staff. In March, Oklahoma City Beautiful received a fifty-thousand dollar grant from Oklahoma City Community Foundation allowing the Adopt-A-Park program to not only survive, but flourish.
Since March, additional volunteers have been 
secured, existing adoptions have been upgraded, educational resources and seminars have been expanded, and increased public awareness has led more local businesses to become involved. Now, more than 100 Oklahoma City parks, medians, flowerbeds and other areas have about 850 loving volunteers to look after them.
For its ability to turn a lemon into lemonade by enhancing a cornerstone of its community beautification efforts, and for its skill in conveying a sense of proud citizen ownership of the city's parks and medians, OKC Beautiful is good news and a great example for green urban areas in Oklahoma. 
 
 
 
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Home - About Us - Award Competition - Award Winners - Annual Conference Anti-Litter - Grant Opportunities - Great American Cleanup - Join KOB Newsletters - Resources & Links - Photo Gallery 6051 N. Brookline Ave. - Suite 125 - Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Phone: 405-286-9141 Fax: 405-286-5952 info@keepoklahomabeautiful.com |
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