La Grande beautification award nominations open through May 25

La Grande residents still have a few weeks to put a favorite yard, storefront or landscaped property in the running for the city’s spring beautification award, but the deadline is close: nominations are due May 25.

The seasonal program is run through City of La Grande Parks & Recreation and the La Grande Community Landscape and Forestry Commission, with awards for residential and commercial properties that are carefully landscaped and visible from public streets or other public access areas. The city says the Landscape and Community Forest Beautification Awards Program was established by the City Council to honor individuals and businesses that create or maintain landscapes that add to the diversity and livability of La Grande.

The nomination form asks for the nominee’s street address and up to four standout landscape qualities. Submissions go to the City of La Grande Parks Department, 2402 Cedar Street, La Grande, OR 97850. The Urban Forestry Division can be reached at 541-663-1952. Summer nominations are due July 25, and fall nominations are due September 25.

The award is more than a matter of tidy flower beds. City forestry materials say trees can improve air quality, provide shade, reduce stormwater runoff, lower energy costs, raise property values and make business districts more inviting. The Community Landscape and Forestry Commission also serves as an advisory body that advocates for the urban forest and helps guide long-term planning and policy, which puts the beautification awards inside a broader push to shape how La Grande looks and functions over time.

Recent winners show how wide the field can be. In 2024, the spring residential award went to 307 2nd Street, where the landscape featured low-water plantings, deer-resistant shrubs and perennials, mulch replacing turf under street trees and a dry creek bed built from excavated rocks. That same year, the commercial winner was C’s storage at 3107 Cove Ave., recognized for preserving a large share of the property as greenspace. In 2025, the summer award went to 402 N Avenue, a home with more than 200 trees, shrubs and plants, 95% of them native species.

La Grande says its urban forestry program reflects a citywide commitment that has lasted for decades. The city has been a Tree City USA community for 36 years and has received 31 consecutive Tree City USA Growth Awards, a record that underscores how closely the beautification awards are tied to the community’s broader identity. For neighbors watching which streets, homes and storefronts are drawing the eye this spring, the nominations window is now open.