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Lowell Wins Arkansas Shine Award from Keep Arkansas Beautiful

Community honored for beautification, recycling efforts

LOWELL (Sep. 15, 2009) - The City of Lowell has won its second consecutive Arkansas Shine Award from the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (KAB). KAB representatives presented the award to city officials at a reception today at Lowell City Hall.

The Arkansas Shine Awards program recognizes communities that are making significant strides in providing programs and instituting policies to create sustainable communities. Lowell is one of six statewide recipients of the second annual Arkansas Shine Awards.

“Lowell and its citizens have spent the last year making efforts to better our community,” wrote Mayor Perry Long in the city’s Arkansas Shine Awards entry. “This last year has shown Lowell to be a community that will step up when it has to for the betterment of everyone.”

Lowell’s awards entry highlighted its efforts to beautify the community. The City has received an Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism grant to improve walking and biking trails. Through a Keep America Beautiful grant, the City has instituted a wildflower program, making wildflower seeds available to schools, churches and civic organizations. Local companies, including J.B. Hunt Transport and Mudtown BMX, and civic groups such as the Kiwanis Club are partnered with the City to maintain parks and keep roadways free of litter.

As a member of Tree City USA, Lowell’s annual Arbor Day celebration includes a tree planting at local schools. In April, the City also planted a tree in memory of Ginny Cheek of Lowell, establishing a Memorial Tree Program. “The hope is that this program will continue to grow, and we will have trees growing in public areas throughout the city,” Long wrote in the awards entry.

In the past year, the City has hired a new code enforcement officer to help educate residents about the importance of keeping their property clean. As a result of code enforcement efforts, Lowell has seen a decrease in the mosquito infestation and the amount of trash and debris, which attracts rodents and cause disease. “The City has resolved many issues by working with homeowners and property owners to clean up their properties,” Long wrote.

Graffiti removal is another way the City has worked to beautify the community. “We have had issues this year with graffiti,” Long wrote. “Our residents, along with the Street and Police departments, have stepped up to clean the graffiti and make efforts to prevent it.”

Recycling has also played a role in Lowell’s community-improvement efforts. According to the awards entry, J.B. Hunt Transport, Lowell’s largest employer and one of the largest trucking firms in the U.S., recycles its tires, as well as paper, plastic and cardboard. Local schools have instituted recycling programs, and the City provides a public recycling drop-off for metal and plastic recyclables.

“By showcasing these accomplishments, KAB honors the pride and spirit that produces noteworthy activities, salutes community leaders and selfless volunteers whose work makes it happen, and spotlights outstanding achievements that we hope will stimulate similar programs in communities around Arkansas,” said Robert Phelps, director of KAB.

Arkansas Shine Awards entries were evaluated and ranked using performance standards for 1) creating environmental initiatives to reduce litter, encourage recycling and enhance natural beauty; 2) positively impacting economic development; 3) developing public-private partnerships to accomplish goals; 4) securing project funding; and 5) enforcing litter laws and city ordinances for property upkeep. One Arkansas Shine Awards winner was named in each of six population categories.

The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission is a division of
the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is in compliance with
the Freedom of Information, Ar Code Ann., § 25-19-101 et seq.

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