13 Texas Cities Earn Prominent Scenic City Certification in 2018

Cities recognized for excellence in scenic standards.
Total number of certified cities grows to 75

HOUSTON – July 10, 2018 – Today, 13 Texas cities have been recognized as 2018 Certified Scenic City award recipients through the Scenic City Certification Program, a project of Scenic Texas and its 15 Program Partner organizations. The Scenic City Certification Program recognizes cities for their demonstrated commitment to high-quality scenic standards for public roadways and public spaces.  Four cities have earned certification for the first time and nine are re-certifying or upgrading existing certification status, bringing the total number of certified cities across Texas to 75.

The Scenic City Certification Program is the only program of its kind in the United States to devise a comprehensive set of model standards for the design and development of public roadways and public spaces into one evaluation program. Any Texas city may apply to the Scenic City Certification Program for an objective review of its existing municipal infrastructure ordinances as they relate to the model standards. Assessment is points-based, and every city applicant receives a detailed, scored evaluation that identifies both strengths and areas for improvement. Official certification is earned by cities that score points in the upper range and meet threshold standards for landscaping, tree planting and sign regulation.

“Through the Scenic City Certification Program, cities access a low cost, high rate-of-return diagnostic tool,” said Anne Culver, executive vice president of Scenic Texas. “The detailed 360° evaluation of existing infrastructure standards supplies cities with a roadmap for future growth and development. We are pleased so many municipalities participated this year, earning either first-time certification or re-certification.”

Cities earning first-time certification or recertification in 2018 and their rankings are:

Bee Cave (Ranked Up) – Platinum

Corinth (Ranked Up) – Silver

Duncanville (First-Time) – Bronze

Fort Worth (Re-Certified) – Gold

Little Elm (First-Time) – Silver

Manor (First-Time) – Bronze

McKinney (Re-Certified) – Platinum

Nacogdoches (First-Time) – Recognized

Pharr (Ranked Up) – Silver

Prosper (Ranked Up) – Silver

Rockwall (Re-Certified) – Platinum

Seabrook (Re-Certified) – Recognized

West University Place (Re-Certified) – Silver

A reception to present these 13 municipalities with their Scenic City Certification awards will be held on October 11, 2018 in Fort Worth, during the Texas Municipal League’s Annual Conference week.

The Scenic City application period for 2019 opens January 1, 2019. Any interested Texas municipality may go online now     to review the Program standards and application process at www.sceniccitycertification.org.

Joining Scenic Texas as partners in the Scenic City Certification Program are the Texas Municipal League, Urban Land Institute – Austin, Urban Land Institute – Houston, Urban Land Institute – San Antonio, American Planning Association Texas, Houston-Galveston Area Council, American Council of Engineering Companies Houston, Hill Country Alliance, Keep Texas Beautiful, Texas Downtown Association, Texas Economic Development Council, Texas Historical Commission, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Scenic Houston and Scenic America.

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Scenic Texas is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the visual character of Texas. Scenic Texas promotes enhanced design standards for public projects, sign regulation, freeway landscaping and scenic byway development. Visit www.scenictexas.org.

CERTIFIED SCENIC CITIES 2010-2018