2019 Alexandria Beautification Awards Presented by Mayor Wilson and City Council
(left to right): Kevin Dunne, Richard Dorrier, Councilwoman Del Pepper, Geoff Montross, Emily Freeland, Donald Kent, Mayor Justin Wilson, Councilwoman Amy Jackson, Christina Mazurkevich, Mary Ensch, Denise Tennant, Monica Murphy, Kathryn Chiasson, Joseph Crowell.
Alexandria, VA – On October 16, 2019, the Alexandria Beautification Commission held its annual Beautification Awards ceremony at the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria. The event honored residents, businesses, and organizations for their exceptional contributions to the beautification of the city of Alexandria through landscaping, architecture and sustainable design.
Commission member, Joseph Crowell, served as the evening’s emcee and announced the winners. Mayor Justin Wilson and members of City Council, Canek Aguirre, Del Pepper, and Amy Jackson presented the winners with their award certificates. Mayor Wilson remarked that Alexandria continually ranks high on many lists as a top place to live and work, in large part due to community participation and the Commission’s beautification efforts.
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Joan Honeyman, ASLA, owner of Jordan Honeyman Landscape Design and adjunct professor of Sustainable Landscape Design at George Washington University, delivered the keynote address. Ms. Honeyman spoke about the recent renovation of the Ramsay House garden at the Alexandria Visitors Center, one of the oldest buildings in historic Old Town, “into a more useable and more beautiful civic amenity.” Holding true to the past and the future, the concept was two-fold: to respect the historic content of the space; and to create a functional, beautiful and resilient contemporary garden space for visitors and residents.
Ms. Honeyman also spoke about the power of village participation, which she defined as “people coming together in a mindful and supportive manner to get something done,” as it related to the renovation project. She stated, “It’s been determined that thoughtfully designed urban green spaces have the capacity to establish a sense of community that’s beautiful, safe, social and connected,” which ultimately results in community empowerment and ownership.
PHOTOS and WINNERS: (Photos by Mellenie Runion and Maz Photography)
