MARYSVILLE — The first-ever Pride of Marysville Neighborhood Improvement Awards are seeking nominees of homes and businesses that possess curb appeal. The awards recognize neighbors and businesses who take pride in their property in ways that enhance the appearance of the community.
The awards are intended to inspire other neighbors to improve their homes and landscapes. Business owners will be recognized for the curb appeal of their business facades and locations.
“A well-kept home, neighborhood and business says that residents and business owners take pride in their community,” said Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, who launched the initiative. “With pride comes value, beauty and a great image for our city.”
Nominees will be judged on visual enhancement, preservation of the character of the area, improvements such as building, landscaping and signage, and enhancement of the natural environment.
Properties can be nominated for one of four award categories, based on their qualifying characteristics. The categories are:
• Best Home/Pride of the Neighborhood, where homes are consistently well-kept with well-manicured lawns and colorful landscapes, or enhanced with new paint, landscaping or other significant aesthetic improvements.
• Best Block/Neighborhood, based on general and neighborhood entrance and gateway appeal and improvements made.
• Best Business sites with curb appeal that have attractive landscaping, well-kept appearances, attractive facades and are assets to their neighborhoods.
• The Mayor’s Choice and James Comeford Award to the Downtown and Waterfront District’s Most Improved, which can be a home or business.
Award winners are drawn from a pool of nominees selected by the community through a nomination process, then are chosen by a committee consisting of a City Council member, a Planning Commissioner, a Parks and Recreation representative and two citizens selected at large. The Mayor will name his winning selection from the same pool of candidates.
Nomination brochures are available on the city of Marysville website at http://marysvillewa.gov and can be completed and submitted online. Brochures are also available at these locations:
• Marysville City Hall, 1049 State Ave.
• Marysville Public Works Department, 80 Columbia Ave.
•Marysville Parks and Recreation Office, 6915 Armar Rd.
• Marysville Library, 6120 Grove St.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Monday, July 2. Award winners will be announced July 16 and publicly recognized at that evening’s City Council meeting. Engraved yard markers will also be presented to let everyone know of their honor.
Nehring said that general lack of cleanliness around the community and downtown is a concern that has been raised at community meetings and at City Council and director retreats. Officials resolved to launch more concerted cost-efficient cleanup efforts in the downtown and waterfront area — such as road re-striping, painting and roadside right-of-way maintenance — as well as community-wide.
The Pride of Marysville awards are viewed as one solution toward creating a cleaner, more attractive community.
“The city wants to recognize people who take that same pride in cleanliness, appeal and livability where they live or work,” says Nehring. “Their efforts reflect well on the community, and could inspire others to do the same.”
