HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Two judges from America in Bloom are running the rule over the Tulip City.
Linda Cromer of Greendale, Indiana is joining Tim France of Coshocton, Ohio in touring a number of venues in and around Holland through Tuesday, and Cromer says that they are looking at more than how the flowers are growing in this annual, national urban beautification awareness competition.
“We’re looking at the landscaping efforts of the community,” the AIB board member remarked in a Monday in-studio appearance on “WHTC Morning News,” “how the communities are honoring their heritage, their efforts for environmental responsibility. We’re looking at the overall community vitality; is everybody engaged, is everybody pulling together?
“We’re also looking at the urban forestry efforts, which are a particular interest to me, as well as the overall impression, so it’s a holistic approach to community improvement.”
Cromer and France have already sized up Winter Park, Florida, Liberty, Missouri and Mansfield, Ohio, the other three cities vying with Holland for honors in the population 30,000-40,000 category. Awards will be presented during the America in Bloom annual Symposium, set for October 3-5 in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Illinois.
This is Holland’s return to the AIB competition after a two-year hiatus; the Tulip City participated in the international Communities in Bloom in 2017 and took last year off to work on recommended improvements given since Holland began participating in America in Bloom in 2011.
