Kane County Reporter

After three years of participating in the America in Bloom national awards program, St. Charles recently won in its population category and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for Overall Impression.

St. Charles’ landscaped areas, floral displays, environmental sites and conservation efforts were reviewed by two judges on July 13 and 14. Judges scored St. Charles with 904.50 out of 1,000 potential points, according to a city press release. It was the top pick nationwide of communities with 25,000 to 50,000 residents. The public accolade earned the local community a position in the Circle of Champions – a revered community of nationwide Bloom awardees.

Even though public honor was the main reward of the program, St. Charles in Bloom Committee members said the collaborative efforts of volunteers, partnership organizations, city members and local businesses were all part of the rewarding experience.

“While we are thrilled for the recognition that St. Charles is a wonderful place, it's about more than merely winning a competition," 5th Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis said in the release. “Every one of the volunteers involved all year long on the America in Bloom entry works to make St. Charles the best community it can be.”

St. Charles demonstrated a level of community-building that impressed the judges and led to the city earning the highly sought after "5 Blooms" rating. 

“The judges were extremely impressed with the level of community participation and the collaborative effort of several of our community groups,” St. Charles in Bloom Committee member Diane Cullen said in the release. “Thank you to all the members of the St. Charles in Bloom Committee, the hundreds of community volunteers and businesses, the St. Charles Park District, Pottawatomie Garden Club, Downtown St. Charles Partnership, school district, and city staff for their hard work.”