Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Greenest Block in Brooklyn

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Prizes

First Prize is a $300 check for each top residential and commercial block winner. All other finalists will receive cash prizes ranging from $100 to $200.

Best Window Box, Greenest Storefront, Best Street Tree Beds, and Best Community Garden Streetscape winners will receive cash prizes or gardening tools, and all participants will be awarded a recognition certificate.

Contest participants who attend the fall recognition ceremony will also receive a gift bag of fall bulbs and a certificate of recognition for their participation.

Residential Block—2009 Rules and Judging Criteria

The purpose of the contest is to promote streetscape gardening in the borough of Brooklyn through block associations and other community groups. For more information, call 718-623-7250.

Rules:

Applications must be postmarked by Monday, June 1, 2009.
Entrants must be a block association, civic group, or neighborhood organization.
Entrants must represent one block only (both sides of the street, corner to corner). If an organization represents more than one block, please enter each block separately.
The first-prize winner from last year may not enter the contest this year.

Judging Criteria for "Greenest Block in Brooklyn" Contest

Variety and Suitability of Plants—Does the block display a number of different kinds of plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers? Does the block have window boxes in significant numbers? What about "front yard" gardens? Is it a tree-lined street? What about the location of plants in relation to growing conditions, such as sun or shade, and the appropriateness of plants?
Horticultural Practice—What is the quality and condition of the plants? Are the flowers and shrubs a good size for the variety? What has been done to combat problems of insects or diseases?
Street Tree Care—How do the street tree beds look? Has the soil level been raised (bad practice)? Are the trees pruned and maintained? Are there any dead trees or dangerous limbs?
Soil and Mulching—Is mulching used for tree beds and plantings? What do you notice about the soil? Is it obvious that soil amendments have been used? To what extent?
Maintenance—Refers to cleanliness and neatness. Are there weeds in gardens? Are flowers deadheaded? Is there a lot of debris on the block? (Blocks won't be downgraded if the judging visit is the day of sanitation pickup and there are garbage cans on sidewalks).
Color—Does the block use color effectively? Remember that green is a color with many shades. Are window boxes visible and colorful? What about other containers or "front yard" gardens?
Total Visual Effect—What is the visual effect of the whole block?
Citizen Participation—What efforts indicate community effort, such as street tree maintenance, community gardens, or areas on the block that seem to be cooperative areas? How many residents on the block seem to be involved in greening/gardening their respective blocks?

Business Block—2009 Rules and Judging Criteria

The purpose of the contest is to promote greening and cleaning activities among businesses in Brooklyn through your local development corporation, business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, or other nonprofit economic development or management organizations.

Rules:

Applications must be postmarked by Monday, June 1, 2009.
Entrants must be a nonprofit association of businesses.
Organizations can represent more than one block, but please attach a list of the individual blocks from corner to corner. Each will be considered as a separate contestant. Opposite sides of the street will be judged as separate entrants.
Prizes will be given to the organization/association, not to individual businesses.
The winner from last year may not enter the contest this year.

Judging Criteria for "Greenest Business Block in Brooklyn" Contest

Variety and Suitability of Plants—Does the block display a number of different kinds of plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers? Is it a tree-lined street? What about the location of plants in relation to growing conditions, such as sun or shade, and the appropriateness of plants?
Horticultural Practice—What is the quality and condition of the plants? Are the flowers and shrubs a good size for the variety? What has been done to combat problems of insects or diseases?
Street Tree Care—How do the street tree beds look? Has the soil level been raised (bad practice)? Are the trees pruned and maintained? Are there any dead trees or dangerous limbs?
Soil and Mulching—Is mulching used for tree beds and plantings? What do you notice about the soil? Is it obvious that soil amendments have been used? To what extent?
Maintenance—Refers to cleanliness and neatness. Are there weeds in plantings? Are flowers deadheaded? Is there a lot of debris on the block? (Blocks won't be downgraded if the judging visit is the day of sanitation pickup and there are garbage cans on sidewalks).
Color—Does the block use color effectively? Remember that green is a color with many shades.
Total Visual Effect—What is the visual effect of the whole block?
Citizen Participation—What efforts indicate community effort, such as street tree maintenance or areas on the block that seem to be cooperative areas? How many businesses on the block seem to be involved in greening/cleaning their respective storefronts?
Creativity—What creative efforts to green up and beautify the block are noticeable? Do store windows show effective use of plants/flowers/greenery, etc?

A project of GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Borough President Marty Markowitz. Sponsored by Independence Community Foundation.