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Draft Updated April 2025 <br />Elk River Garden Gem Awards <br />Program Guidelines <br />Program Overview <br />Established in 2025, the Elk River Garden Gem Awards highlights exceptional gardens and <br />landscaping in Elk River. Each year the Elk River Economic Development Authority (EDA) <br />and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), with recommendations from the <br />Beautification and Public Art Committee, recognizes residents, neighborhoods, and <br />businesses who have maintained beautiful gardens or landscapes, therefore adding to the <br />overall beauty and attractiveness of the city. <br />Nominations may be submitted by anyone including neighbors, contractors, friends, or the <br />gardeners themselves. <br />Eligible Categories <br />•Single Family built before 2000 <br />•Single Family built in 2000 or later <br />•Townhome <br />•Neighborhood – Resident/volunteer managed monument sign landscape, cul-de-sac <br />landscape, or community garden <br />•Commercial – Professionally managed business, or retail/business park monument sign <br />landscape <br />Requirements <br />•Garden/landscape must be located in Elk River <br />•Garden/landscape must primarily feature flowering plants, trees, shrubs, ground cover, <br />perennials, retaining walls, arbors, or water features to create a visually significant <br />summer long display <br />•Garden/landscape must be well maintained through the growing season <br />•Garden/landscape must have a positive visual impact on the neighborhood by being <br />substantially visible from the right-of-way <br />•Previous winners are ineligible to win in the subsequent two years <br />Program Timeline <br />•Nomination period: May 1 to July 31 <br />•Judges tour and evaluate gardens: August <br />•EDA and HRA formally recognizes winning gardens: September <br />Judging Criteria <br />Each garden/landscape nominated is visited and judged based on the following criteria: <br />•Overall attractiveness <br />•Design <br />•Plant variety <br />•Environmental impact <br />•Creativity <br />•Appropriate maintenance <br />Page 14 of 22