Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Chamber wins beautification honor

The City of Prescott has been honored for its on-going beautification program as a winner of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Award of Excellence.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor, Prescott/Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Director Mary Godwin, and Prescott Beautification Committee members Barbara Lowdermilk and Elaine Williams accepted the award April 28 in ceremonies in Little Rock for the citys Clean Town, Good Town, Good People program.

It feels very good, Godwin said of the win. We were very, very happy. We went to enjoy the day for what it would hold, and were proud to have made it to the finals; then, we were even more proud when we won, and were recognized for the years of work involved.

Godwin said community beautification in Prescott has been an evolving process.

Every year, we have a couple of projects we try to get done, and grow that way, she said. Ive been in this position for about seven years, and they started it, maybe, one or two years before that. Until we got the support of the city council, there was no way these projects could get done.

It was a part of the vision of the city council for economic development and overall improvement of our community, Godwin said.

Key projects which were of particular interest to the KAB Executive Director Robert Phelps were the development of Sterling Square Park; the unique Prescott welcome sign; street light decoration; and, the general hometown appearance of the community, she said.

Were really tickled, Godwin added. The city and Chamber have worked a long time on beautification.

One of the projects of special interest in the nomination of Prescott by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development was the development of a community-wide litter clean-up contest, Godwin said.

In the fall every year, we sponsor a litter pick-up day; its a contest for local organizations, she said. It starts at the Bank of Prescott and for two hours everybody brings whatever they pick up to one place for a weigh-in, and we give cash awards for the winners.

That kind of enthusiasm for projects which are more than just planting flowers, according to Godwin, caught Phelps attention and that of Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who participated in the awards presentation at the Doubletree Hotel.

As an award winner, we know your group has made a significant positive contribution to your community, and now we want to share your success with the rest of the state, Phelps said in a congratulatory letter.

We salute you for the pride, spirit and effort demonstrated in producing such an outstanding achievement.

The competition pitted Prescott against cities of diverse sizes from across the state.

Theres no glory here, Godwin said. Most people think its just planting flowers, but our biggest area

we maintain is along the railroad track all the way through town. When we see a need, we take care of it.

Consequently, the beautification committee is responsible for the maintenance of Sterling Square Park, the park clock, and has also undertaken some paving projects in the downtown business district, she said.

City funding has helped staff the effort, she said, but the direction for the on-going beautification comes from the citys volunteer committee which includes Lowdermilk, Williams, Godwin, Taylor, Joe Graham, Faith Beavert, Clay Wingfield, and Shelia Cannon.

The committee makes the decisions, and then I research it and am responsible for implementing it, Godwin said. There is not a day that goes by that Im not involved with some part of beautification.