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Nominate Your Neighbor (or Yourself) for a Beautification Award

Legacy Square in Park Forest
You or your neighbor could win a Beautification Award. (VOPF)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Park Forest is looking for examples of excellent maintenance and creativity to recognize with the annual Beautification Award. All residences, whether owned or rented, single family or multi family will be considered as will any Park Forest business.

Nominations will be accepted from now through June 30 from residents and local business owners for any properties they deem worthy of recognition. Then, in July, the Beautification Awards Committee judges will survey your home or business.

Nomination someone today by clicking here.

About Beautification Awards in Park Forest

Award certificates are presented annually to residents and commercial operators whose properties are judged to be excellent examples of good maintenance and visual appeal.

The Beautification Awards Committee, now in its 48th year, oversees the annual surveying and judging of properties. On hiatus from 2014-2018, the Committee was restored and streamlined in 2019.

Properties are nominated by the public; self-nominations are strongly encouraged. Committee members and volunteer judges then survey and judge the nominated properties.

Requirements to Win a Beautification Award

Surveyors and judges look for properties that show continuing maintenance, reflect care and enhance the neighborhood.

Properties do not need to be expensively landscaped but the existing landscaping should be in well maintained and in good health. Flowers are desirable but not essential. Lawns must show care although they do not need to be weed free or look green during drought. Shrubs must be trimmed or pruned. Flowerbeds and planters should be weed free. Dead trees, unless improved to enhance the property or trees with sucker growth will disqualify a property. Weeds in gutters, cracks or driveways, sidewalks or along curbs will also result in a disqualification.

Homes and structures on the property must be in good repair. House numbers must be present and unobstructed. Structural or landscaping projects underway during the judging do not disqualify any property if other evidence indicates award-winning qualifications.

Ordinance violations will result in disqualification. Some common violations that disqualify a property are peeling paint, hanging gutters, damaged siding, broken windows, fences in need of repair and illegally parked trailers, boats and RVs. Please contact the Building Department at Village Hall for more information regarding the Village Code of Municipal Ordinances.

Special Recognition Awards

New in 2021, the Beautification Awards Committee voted to recognize two new categories of excellence. First, the Judges Choice designation will be awarded to the one property that the Committee has determined to have the best curb appeal and most meticulous care of all Beautification Award winners. The Judges Choice winner will receive a unique yard sign with the Judges Choice designation. This is a once per property award.

Second, the Committee will designate one block as the Beauty Block. All Beautification Award winners on that block will have receive a yard sign with the Beauty Block designation. Small roads may be considered in their entirety; for larger thoroughfares, a specific block will be recognized. This is a once per block award.

Volunteers

Any Park Forest resident can volunteer. The Committee is always looking for new members and volunteers. The Committee is active from March thru October and is a perfect fit for anyone interested in home improvements, gardening or even fitness buffs who would like a reason to walk the Village.

If you wish to volunteer, please contact Carolyn Hoff in the Department of Recreation, Parks & Community Health at (708) 748-2005 or email Carolyn at choff@vopf.com.

Nomination forms may also be picked up at the Recreation, Parks & Community Health Department at Village Hall. Learn more about the Beautification Awards here

Nomination someone today by clicking here.

Take a look at some beautiful single family homes here on the Village of Park Forest website. (Gallery is at the bottom of the page.)

Check out wonderful Cooperatives here.

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