City Beautification Board

What We Do

The Gainesville City Beautification Board was established in 1960 as an advisory coard to the city commission. It consists of volunteer members who donate their time and efforts to organize and implement many projects. The board meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Historic Thomas Center, Building A, located at 302 NE Sixth Ave.

The board acts as coordinator, contributor, commentator and catalyst on a foundation. These efforts are based upon a union of enthusiastic residents and professionals who advise the city commission on matters pertaining to beautification, sanitation and the environment.

Get Involved! Click this link to see if we have any vacancies on the board!

To nominate a building or project for a City Beautification Award, please complete the award application here.

The purpose of the City Beautification Board is to improve the livability of Gainesville and its surrounding areas. The board addresses the environmental and aesthetic concerns of the community by promoting and encouraging stewardship, improvement and maintenance of community assets, coordinates planning and supportive beautification programs, excellence in design, opportunities for general public participation in beautification endeavors, and gifts, grants, bequests and other contributions for beautification.

The annual City Beautification Awards recognize excellence in a variety of design categories. The awards highlight projects of outstanding aesthetic and artistic appeal. Projects are evaluated for originality, innovation, and creativity, as well as for their sustainability, maintenance and use of serviceable materials. An award-winning site must exhibit appropriate land utilization, effective planning, compatibility with the area and screening of unsightly views. All projects must meet applicable building and landscaping codes. Each must result in the improvement of the area, property or neighborhood.

Award-winning projects reflect the commitment of many individuals to excellence in design. Owners, managers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, designers and others have contributed to these prize-winning projects. The City Beautification Board salutes those who have made a significant contribution to our community through each outstanding project.

The City Beautification Board is currently working on establishing design standards and guidelines for the future development and improvement of primary thoroughfares in the Gainesville area. The goal is to establish visually unifying landscapes along these corridors throughout the city. This program will be referred to as the Gateway Corridor Design Project with the hopes of funding and development through the Florida Department of Transportation's Highway Beautification Grant.

Member List: Mary Lou Hildreth (chair), Chirayu M. Patel (vice chair), Colton Langsam, Leah Shelley, Debra Krawczykiewicz, Trista Brophy Duron, Devin Downs, Bruce Blackwell, Kendall Kelly, and April O’Neal

City Beautification Awards

• 2018 City Beautification Awards and pictures from the Awards Ceremony

Florida Arbor Day

• 2018 Florida Arbor Day pictures

Arbor Day and Tree Plantings

The board has planted many varieties of trees along major corridors, in parks, in downtown Gainesville and at the Thomas Center. Each year an event is held on the third Thursday in January in recognition of Florida Arbor Day.

Tree City USA

Beginning in 1983, Gainesville received the Tree City USA designation because of the combined efforts of the City Beautification Board, the City of Gainesville Parks Division and the Florida Division of Forestry. Each year, the CBB renews its designation.

Comprehensive Civic Design

The City Beautification Board conceptualizes Gainesville and its environs in a comprehensive and holistic way, aiming toward beautification efforts and area-wide guidelines instead of piecemeal development. It has commissioned a comprehensive gateway corridor study, a median guidelines study and a roadway lighting guidelines study. It has also identified target areas for improvement related to utilities, tree plantings, medians, signage, etc. It is assisting in formulating strategies to implement the enhancements. Comprehensive Beautification and Civic Design Program

Gateway Corridor Study

The City Beautification Board has established design standards and guidelines for the future development and improvement of primary thoroughfares in the Gainesville area. The goal is to establish visually unifying landscapes along these corridors throughout the City with the hopes of funding and development through the Florida Department of Transportation's Highway Beautification Grant. Gateway Corridor Study Official

Median Guidelines Study

The City Beautification Board has established guidelines for median design, maintenance, planting materials and signage. Median Guidelines Study

Adopt-a-Median

The Florida Department of Transportation allows corporations, organizations and individuals to sponsor and maintain medians on selected corridors. This is an excellent way to promote a business and beautify the community at the same time.

Park Development/Adopt-a-Park

The City Beautification Board works with the city and community groups to upgrade and maintain our existing parks. There is also an opportunity for groups or individuals to Adopt-a-Park.

The City Beautification Board recognizes excellence in design in the following categories. Properties that have received an award previously should not be submitted unless substantial changes have been made. Application categories may include:

• Outstanding Individual Award
• Outstanding Group Award
• Institutional Facilities
• Commercial and Retail Businesses
• Apartments
• Restoration, Revitalization and Adaptive Reuse
• Façade Improvements
• Uniquely Gainesville
• Outstanding Commercial Awards
• Outstanding Institutional Awards

Please note: Categories may change each year.

The architecture, landscaping, restoration, and signage are assessed by using the following criteria: aesthetic and artistic appeal; originality; innovativeness, and creativity; long term strategy and effective planning (e.g., attractive and serviceable materials, maintenance); compatibility or upgrading of the area; screening of unsightly views; and appropriate use of site.