ARROYO GRANDE, CA (WHTC) – Holland scored well but didn’t win its category in the 2016 America in Bloom competition.
Competing for the sixth time in the annual national urban beautification awareness program, the Tulip City earned five out of a five possible “blooms” as honors were handed out during Saturday night’s awards ceremony. However, in its competitive “medium” population category, Holland and this year’s awards host city Arroyo Grande lost out to the St. Louis, Missouri suburb of Washington for “champion” honors. Independent judges sized up all participating communities on various criteria.
Holland did receive an outstanding achievement award for environmental efforts, a special award for the “coolest downtown,” regardless of community size, and special recognition for landscaped areas.
Program officials say that 250 municipalities from 45 states have participated in America in Bloom since its inception in 2001.