America in Bloom 2016 EVALUATION REPORT

Transcription

1 America in Bloom 2016 EVALUATION REPORT Community: Holland, MI Population Category: Circle of Champions Mid-Sized Evaluation Dates: July 21 & 22 Judges: Leslie Pittenger & Jack Clasen America in Bloom envisions communities across the country as welcoming and vibrant places to live, work, and play benefitting from colorful plants and trees; enjoying clean environments; celebrating heritage; and planting pride through volunteerism. All evaluation criteria are adjusted to the climate and environmental conditions of the community s location. This Evaluation Report is based upon your community s efforts in each of the following criteria: Criteria Possible Points Actual Points 1. Floral Displays Landscaped Areas Urban Forestry Environmental Efforts Heritage Preservation Overall Impression Total % Bloom Rating 5 Five blooms = 85% Four blooms = % Three blooms = % Two blooms = % One bloom = <45.00% Community representatives to receive the Evaluation Report: Name: Steve Zwiep Title: Holland in Bloom s.zwiep@cityofholland.com Name: Ryan Cotton Title: Holland City Manager r.cotton@cityofholland.com Name: Nancy DeBoer Title: Mayor of Holland n.deboer@cityofholland.com Name: Sally Laukitis Title: Holland CVB Director sally@holland.org 1 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

2 General Observations and Recommendations: Recommendations are indicated in italics. Congratulations on your five (5) bloom rating in the Circle of Champions category of the America in Bloom program. Your years of involvement in America in Bloom have really paid off as we witnessed your accomplishments during our tour of your community. Your past commitment to excellence and community pride has earned you the privilege to peer with other champion cities, functioning at an elevated level of performance, as well as judging scrutiny. Thank you for accepting the greater challenge of the Circle of Champions and planting pride in your community. Please consider, in the future, entering the international challenge with Communities in Bloom. Holland would do well in that competition and deserves national and international recognition for your achievements in improving the quality of life for everyone. After a few decades of a public-private partnership downtown Holland is a thriving focal point to the city. The positive benefits for the tourism, hospitality and retail industry are evident with full storefronts, public art, senior housing, high end hotels, unique restaurants and breweries, making the city is a regional destination. The students of Hope College visit downtown regularly and it is often their answer to a student union! The hard work and effort of the city to keep downtown clean and colorful and the dedication of the Holland CVB and West Coast Chamber to involve businesses in the positive vibe makes for a vibrant center to this popular city. Over the years the city has accomplished so much it is impossible to see, hear, and understand all the improvements in just a two-day tour. While the community profile is an excellent document, it might be helpful to develop a profile that has more bullet points listing the many brochures, resources, and facts related to the America in Bloom criteria. Also consider providing us a one-page summary of changes/improvements in the past year. The Holland in Bloom committee has many members who are very involved in recruiting their neighboring communities to become an AIB city. This mentoring and enthusiasm is exactly what makes the program grow. Thank you for your efforts and including the Mayor of Zeeland and a representative from the City of South Haven, MI to the dinner and awards presentation on Monday of our visit. We express our gratitude and admiration to the dedication of the Holland in Bloom committee for their commitment to making Holland a better place to live. Thank you to Steve Zwiep and Jody Syens for a wonderful tour and making us feel welcome. We look forward to your continued participation in America in Bloom. 2 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

3 1. Floral Displays Flower beds, containers, planters, baskets, window boxes, trellises. Arrangement, originality, distribution, location, diversity, balance, harmony, quality of maintenance. Use and integration of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs, tropical plants, and seasonal flowers and colorful foliage that provide year-round interest. Municipal Leadership and plan of action for floral displays Concept and design, variety of plantings, overall effect Maintenance and quality of displays Design for all seasons Business Concept and design, overall effect Maintenance and quality of displays Residential Concept and design, overall effect Maintenance and quality of displays Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in design, planting, and maintenance of floral displays Financial and in-kind contributions to floral displays Max points Actual Score Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Observations and Recommendations: Holland excels in quality floral displays. The downtown planters are varied, attractive, and wonderfully maintained. The investment pays dividends as locals and tourists alike enjoy the year-round displays with special attention to the tulips and summer annuals. Planters also are filled with pansies in the fall and plants for winter interest. 3 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

4 While other communities are thinking about spring plantings Holland is in the midst of their very successful Tulip Time Festival. The 500,000 tulips planted in the fall by volunteers and the Parks Department staff offer Holland a chance to provide one of the best horticulture events in the country. The Tulip Time, Inc. organization is well run and plans all year for the big event each May. It sets the bar high for the Parks Department and they deliver with quality displays throughout the downtown area and Windmill Island. Local businesses joined the beautification effort with additional displays at their doors and in the lobbies. An excellent example is Macatawa Bank on 7 th Street which has added attractive flowers and landscape. Hope College had striking planters throughout campus. The designs were beautiful and the plants were healthy and stunning. The Holland Garden Club coordinates the program where the 250,000 tulip lane tulips are replaced by annuals for any resident wishing to accept free flats of annuals to put in place of the tulips. Bravo! There is a mobile living wall in downtown filled with a nice variety of plants. A few of the plants needed fertilization to fill out the space to hide the containers. Windows on the Waterfront is a beautiful park connected to the expanding biking/walking trail along Lake Macatawa. Currently, the park is slightly disconnected from downtown. Consider developing a corridor along College Street from downtown to Windows on the Waterfront Park with floral displays and signage directing people from downtown to the park. Centennial Park is beautiful with an extensive tree canopy. The tree canopy provides abundant shade which is good for shade loving summer annuals but is not as conducive for hanging baskets. Holland has set the bar very high with excellent displays in every planter so you may wish to consider eliminating the hanging baskets or changing the plants used to shade hardy plants in Centennial Park if they are not full and overflowing by the end of July. 4 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

5 2. Landscaped Areas Overall design and suitability of landscape, turf, and ground covers. Use of native and introduced plants. Good use of design principles (i.e., balance of plant material and constructed elements, harmony, color, texture, shape, focal points, etc.). Sustainability. Integration of lighting, hardscapes, and site elements such as lamp posts, water features, drinking fountains, bicycle racks, benches, trash/recycling receptacles, etc. Maintenance (weeds, mulching practices, edging). Site rejuvenation and rehabilitation. Efforts in strategic planning. Community gardens, children s gardens, healing gardens, pollinator gardens, Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Audubon, and other specialty public gardens and zoos. Municipal Overall design and planting of landscape, turf and groundcovers Environmental management of sports fields and turf Quality of landscape maintenance Sustainable management, naturalization and eco-design Business Overall design and planting of landscape Management of turf and groundcovers 10 9 Quality of landscape maintenance Residential Overall design and planting of landscape Management of turf and groundcovers Quality of landscape maintenance Community Involvement Volunteer involvement, i.e. garden clubs, neighborhood groups, Master Gardeners and University extension, in funding, planting, and maintenance of landscaped areas Participation in future planning (committees, councils, and advisory boards.) Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Max points Actual Score Observations and Recommendations: The City of Holland Parks Department; Downtown Holland, Inc.; local businesses, and Hope College work hard to develop a beautifully landscaped center city from the southern edge of the college to the lake. The end result is one of the most attractive urban areas in the country, with only a short walk from naturalized areas to a bustling retail center to a gentile college scene. New in 2016 is the community garden developed on Windmill Island. The location is excellent for the garden and the first year exceeded expectations with 21 plots beautifully tended. In the spring it is a large tulip bed that was formerly left to go to turf after tulip bulbs were removed. Now it is complete with a fence to protect plants from the local wildlife and ground cover cloth serves as the walkways between individual gardens. The owners of the plots are given ten free plants and offered classes by the Windmill Island horticulture staff to help them plan, plant and maintain a successful garden. There is a water source and potting shed where tools can be stored. 5 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

6 The local beautification contest in its third year for residents and businesses is quite a success. Changing the name each year is innovative and keeps the contest fresh. This year the name is Blizzards to Blooms - Third Time s A Charm. Residential and business winners were announced at a recognition dinner in late July. It was good to see five businesses involved in the competition. The DeGraff Nature Center focuses on maintaining a natural area combined with extensive educational experiences. There were many displays inside the center as well as brochures and maps to help explore the area. The display on bees, bugs and butterflies was very fascinating. The entrance has a small pollinator garden. Consider selling a pollinator kit at the DeGraff Nature Center store with instructions for a fundraiser for the center. Label the current garden with plant names so that people will know what they are getting in the kit. Windmill Island has several beautiful butterfly gardens with labeled plants and attractive yard art thrown in for interest. Holland may wish to consider becoming a certified monarch butterfly waystation. The DeGraff Nature Center and Windmill Island Gardens could coordinate the effort by encouraging residents to plant butterfly gardens and help them obtain certification as well as purchasing a sign for their yards. AIB community Washington, MO has a successful pollinator program that includes a kit and signage. Contact Dave Wehmeyer from Hillermann Nursery at dave@hillermann.com or Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

7 3. Urban Forestry Distribution, variety and suitability of trees; new plantings; urban tree program; qualified personnel or access to trained individual(s); inventory or database; frequency of tree surveys; care and maintenance programs; preservation of heritage trees and woodlots and green buffer zones; scheduled succession plantings, Tree City USA and their Growth Award. Efforts in management, planning, maintenance, improvement, and innovation. Written policies, bylaws and regulations, long- and short-term plans, trees on private property protected. Municipal Overall plan of action, tree planting programs, variety of species, inventory Tree maintenance Preservation and restoration of natural areas Tree protection/planting regulations and by-laws Business Overall planting program Tree maintenance Residential Overall planting program Tree maintenance Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in funding, planting, and maintenance of trees (i.e. Tree City USA) Volunteer involvement of youth in tree programs (i.e., Arbor Day, etc.) Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Max points Actual Score Observations and Recommendations: The city feels there is a need to develop a tree inventory. This apparently has been discussed for a number of years and yet no action has been taken to date. Begin a tree inventory by identifying a park and counting the number of trees in the parks. Students from the 8 th grade class completed this for Prospect Park so the task is not impossible. Maybe another group of students could survey another park or school property and begin to develop the survey. Another possibility is to train volunteers to begin the inventory. Other communities have successfully completed tree inventories with volunteers. Check the website at Michigan Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) for resources to assist with inventories. Training to become a certified tree risk officer is available through the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). We understand the city has an arborist on staff. Consider having the arborist become certified in this area for the benefit of the city in the long term. When developers build residential or commercial developments they sometimes fail to consider the benefits of trees in the landscape plan. Consider a requirement that developers submit a tree landscape plan for new residential developments before construction begins. 7 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

8 Holland Early College has a strong belief in hands-on learning. An excellent project they implemented was to have a group of 8 th grade students do an analysis of the amount of carbon sequestration from the trees in Prospect Park. First the students counted the number of trees, then determined the height with a clinometer, then the breadth by measuring the diameter at eye level. Using formulas they found the 200 trees in the park sequestered 391 metric tons of carbon, the equivalent of 77 houses or 34 cars on an annual basis. This was an excellent project to learn about math, science, nature, and the important role trees play in our environment. Below are two of the students in the program: Reeanna Etts and Cierra Mendoza. Currently Holland has tree canopy coverage of 24% with an additional 15% possible tree canopy. The goal has been set at 35% but there did not seem to be any plan in place to achieve this goal. Consider choosing a park or the historic district and make that area the priority. 8 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

9 4. Environmental Efforts Sustainability practices. Recycling (paper, glass, metal, plastic, electronics, clothing, etc.), transfer/recycle stations, policies and by-laws, sustainable development strategies, waste reduction, hazardous waste minimization and collection (oil, paint, chemicals, used batteries, etc.), water quality and conservation, energy conservation, environmental cleanup activities, reducing carbon footprint, environmentally friendly transportation, LEED certification, air, noise and light pollution, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), rain gardens and rain barrels, composting, energy efficiency, youth programs, etc. Events such as Earth Day, Recycling Days, Bike to Work Days, etc. Municipal Leadership in environmental initiatives Effective communication of environmental strategies and initiatives New programs, improvement and innovation Business Participation in environmental efforts New programs, improvement and innovation Residential Participation in environmental efforts New programs, improvement and innovation 10 7 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in environmental efforts Youth participation in environmental activities Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Observations and Recommendations: The leader in Holland s environmental effort is the Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW). The electric utility continues to become more energy efficient as they are ready to open the new Holland Energy Park. This new facility is located on the edge of Macatawa Marsh. They are working to establish an outdoor nature preserve which will include several miles of trails for biking and walking. The trails will provide access to Windmill Island Park for cyclists and pedestrians and eventually go all the way to Grand Rapids. HBPW has a number of programs and informational brochures that are available on conservation and how to make your home or business energy efficient. Their Holland Community Energy Plan is very comprehensive and detailed. Holland is fortunate to have a power company with such vision and action plans in place. The snow melt system it is what everyone is talking about in downtown Holland and Hope College. Even in the summer the buzz is about how many more blocks of downtown will be snow free. The construction of the energy park has allowed expansion of this wonderful winter marvel. Sidewalks and streets are removed and tubes are coiled along the ground. The sidewalk and roads are then replaced and when the first snowflakes fall the steam from the power plant is released and flows through the coiled pipes heating the surface and melting the snow! Businesses are able to remain open during the long winter, city labor is reduced in the area and there are no banks of snow to compete for parking spaces. Max Points Actual Score 9 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

10 The city has developed plans for the property it owns at numerous road ends on Lake Macatawa. It is good to see the inclusion of rain gardens, native landscaping, and storm water filtration beds, as well as removal of invasive species, at almost every one of the 13 planned areas. Consider developing an ordinance to require low impact development (LID) principles to be included in every residential, municipal, and commercial development. Use this area to set the standard and serve as a practical example of how LID can still be pleasing to the eye. Heinz walkway is a scenic walkway on Lake Macatawa and ends at a new development on the lake and across the street from newly renovated parking lots. Pavement has been added to the area and a stormwater ditch is beginning to form as water is looking for a route to the lake. Consider installing a rain garden to slow the flow of water and to enhance the landscaping. The City of Holland has a recycling program that requires the residential customer to place items in a yellow bag that will be picked up curbside on the day of their regular refuse pick up. Twenty bags can be ordered for delivery at one time and the form is available online or residents can pick up bags at city hall. Consider switching to a tote pick-up system for simplicity. The burden now is on the consumer to have bags. Making it simple should increase the tonnage removed from the landfill. The yellow bag system prohibits recycling in the many parks or downtown. The logistics and commercial demands are the next step in improving the recycling organization. Education is also a vital element of a successful recycling program. Hope College has a captive audience and education is their priority. Challenge residence halls and college housing residents to increase their recycling by up to 10% each year. Encourage HBPW to offer prizes for the winning residents. Hope College has so many environmental initiatives this will fit nicely with their current efforts. Consider working with the public and private schools in the area on recycling campaigns. Have students design recycling posters then chose 12 or more and use those on the city s website and Holland in Bloom Facebook page. Put together a 12 or 15-month calendar to be sold as a fundraiser for future environmental educational projects. Street lighting has been converted to modern LEDs and is saving the city 63% which is a 1.2 million KWH reduction per year. They have also upgraded the lighting along the walking path in Kollen Park on Lake Macatawa and the Heinz walkway. The lights all have sensors which increases the wattage from 20% to 80% as it senses movement. This makes it safe for walkers and joggers between the dusk to dawn hours, conserves energy and reduces the lights in the night sky. Consider providing signage at one of the two observation areas along the path explaining the lighting conservation efforts along the walkway and lake so that visitors and residents understand how conscientious Holland is about energy conservation. 10 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

11 Many businesses in Holland also are taking advantage of energy savings. HPBW has established a commercial and industrial energy optimization program that has initiated over 166 projects which totaled 11.2 million kwh of savings for those who participated in the first year. Herman Miller and Holland Litho offered a HBPW home energy assessment class to employees. They believe that an energy efficient home is safer and more comfortable. Project Clarity is a multifaceted and collaborative approach to restoring the water quality of the Macatawa Watershed and Lake Macatawa. Partnerships with local and state governmental units as well as fundraising efforts have resulted in significant progress in remediation of the 175-square mile watershed. A total of five restoration projects are complete as well as two major wetland projects for a total of 911 acres. Over 162 acrefeet of water storage was created, and 450 feet of stream bank has been restored. Agricultural best management practices are a high priority for Project Clarity, as 46% of the watershed is in agricultural land. 23 farms have committed to implementing water quality best management practices on 10,085 acres of land. More than 8 acre-feet of water storage was created by the farm project, 1,476 acres of cover crop were planted, and 1.5 miles of two-stage ditched have been created. This is a legacy project that will have a lasting and profound impact on the economy, environment, and community as a whole. Now that you have the community thinking about clean water begin educational programs on rain barrels and rainwater collection for homeowners. Include in the water bill the benefits of collecting rainwater and using it to irrigate and water landscaping and floral displays. Contact your local Michigan Department of Natural Resources agent for programs on rain barrels available in your area. There are several Michigan based rain barrel companies listed on the internet. 11 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

12 5. Heritage Preservation Historical, natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage. Preservation and restoration of buildings, homes, churches, cemeteries; heritage sites and/or monuments; heritage parks, historical gardens; historical trees, artifacts; historical society; heritage advisory committee, museums, archives, history books, land trusts/conservation easements and interpretative programs; ordinances and policies including protection of structures/sites from demolition/development. Resource availability. Farmers markets, festivals and parades. Municipal Leadership in preservation and restoration initiatives Legal protection of heritage sites Resource availability for preservation and restoration Business Conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of properties Participation in and support of heritage/cultural activities Residential Conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of properties Participation in and support of heritage/cultural activities Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in cultural, historical, and natural heritage activities Youth involvement in heritage activities Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Observations and Recommendations: Pride in the Dutch heritage of Holland is evident in the care of its many historic buildings, the success of the Tulip Time Festival and many traditions that are still observed. Many students continue to take Dutch dancing in school and the Tulip Time Festival is a chance to celebrate everything Dutch. Parades, trolley tours, musical events that dazzle and dancing in the streets are just a few of the ways Holland celebrates. The Van Raalte Farm has been a work in progress for many years. This property has a historic home as well as hiking trails and a slope for winter sledding. The Parks Department is currently actively fundraising to expand the offerings at the property. Since 2008 there has been an annual Civil War re-enactment on the property. During the Civil War 424 young men from the area went to fight for the Union a full 25% of the population in the county. The Van Raalte Farm is still producing maple syrup and in March allows visitors to tap a tree and experience how maple sugar used to be made. Many communities create an annual calendar which notes the main festivals and events for the year ahead. Consider developing a calendar that celebrates the many festivals which take place in Holland, including of course, Tulip Time, plus festivals such as Cinco de Mayo and the Tulipanes Festival. Different photos each month featuring the major events could be used as a fundraiser for continued improvements to the Van Raalte Farm or a special charity each year. Max Points Actual Score 12 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

13 The historic district boasts 170 properties where residents can pay $55 for a historic sign to place near their front door. Include more detail in a bullet point form in the community profile explaining who is eligible for the plaques. Good things are happening in the historic district. A former school is being turned into 19 apartments and a few single family dwellings. The neighbors and the city have been included in the planning at the request of the architect. This commitment of keeping the neighborhood character intact demonstrates the strength of historic preservation in Holland. The city operates a trolley loop during Tulip Time. During busy times of the year such as the beginning or end of the Hope College school year consider running trolley tours visiting historic sites with narration for the entertainment and education of all of the extra visitors. The tour could include the historic homes with an on/off plan similar to Tulip Time. The walkway at Pollen Park along Lake Macatawa is a beautiful location. It is well lit and has benches placed strategically so that visitors can sit, relax and enjoy the scenery. Along the walkway are cutouts for better viewing. Consider installing narrative boards telling the story of the historic Ottawa Beach Society or other interesting lake facts. 13 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

14 6. Overall Impression Lack of litter and graffiti. Maintenance of public open spaces, medians and boulevard strips, streets, sidewalks, walking and biking trails, curbs, ditches, road shoulders, unattended and vacant lots, buildings, garbage/recycling receptacles; lack of weeds, dog waste policies and receptacles, notices/posters appropriately displayed, vandalism not evident. Maintenance of the hardscape: walls, lamp posts, benches, playgrounds, etc. Appropriate use and placement of sculpture, public art, wayfinding signs, graphic elements such as banners, signs and murals. Municipal Overall cleanliness 10 9 Maintenance of public roads and shoulders Condition of public buildings and properties Impact of graphic elements - banners, wayfinding signs, murals, etc Business Overall cleanliness Condition of buildings and properties Residential Overall cleanliness 10 8 Condition of buildings and properties 10 8 Community Involvement Participation in clean-up efforts, adopt-a-spot, annual cleanup days, etc Recognition of volunteer efforts 10 9 Total (the fields automatically calculate do not type in them) Max points Actual Score Observations and Recommendations: It is evident when entering Holland that its residents are proud of their property and work very hard to maintain clean and attractive neighborhoods. Many of the streets are lined with hundreds of tulips in the spring and then lovingly replaced with summer annuals. The homeowners plant and maintain the annuals giving the streets and neighborhoods a colorful look. The city is active in promoting an attractive streetscape and offers many programs to assist income-eligible property owners with façade assistance. We were also fortunate to see first-hand the work of HOMECOR and Jubilee Ministries. They have taken homes that have been neglected, abandoned and ready for quick sale and turned them from the eyesore of the neighborhood back to a home to be proud to live in. They use laborers who are looking for a second chance and learning a trade to transform the homes into a safe residence. Credit goes to the city for its pledge of planting street trees at the current project on the corner of 16 th Street and Central. These are the types of collaborations that make a neighborhood liveable! 14 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

15 Holland takes great pride in its attention to detail. Parks, landscape, benches, roads, playground equipment, and banners all have a clean and polished look. Public art is located throughout downtown and the sculptures vary from whimsical to formal. Once people get used to an attractive view of their surroundings then small items stand out more to the eye. For example, the poles in Kollen Park needed a fresh coat of paint. Consider adding cement pads under the picnic tables in the parks. The pads serve dual purposes of maintaining a neater appearance to the area and reducing the need for park staff to move or string trim around the tables. Holland has two beautiful parks very close to downtown Centennial Park and Windows on the Waterfront. Visitors might not realize how close these parks are to downtown. Consider having wayfinding signage on 8 th Street directing visitors to these parks but instead of using just an arrow or a distance, place a time frame on the sign, such as 3-minute walk to Centennial Park or Windows on the Waterfront. Downtown Holland s main commercial street is 8 th Street. It is a beautiful street with well-maintained buildings, attractive floral displays, and tasteful landscapes. Every detail is attended to except one. The trash containers simply do not fit into the attractive overall view of downtown. The photo below on the left illustrates how an entire scene can be ruined by something that does not match in quality to the rest of the environment. Consider replacing the trash containers with more attractive containers as seen in the right photo. This type of container opens in the back for easy maintenance and also is covered giving them a neat and tidy appearance. 15 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

16 Checklist: Yes No N/A Were the judges given a Community Profile, Evaluation Tour Itinerary, and map prior to their arrival? Did the Evaluation Tour Itinerary provide for experiencing a representative crosssection of the community? Were the guides knowledgeable about the community and horticultural aspects? Were the judges able to modify the schedule if needed? Did the judges meet with the media? Did the judges meet with municipal leaders? Were the judges asked to give presentations? Were the judges able to meet with and talk to volunteers? Was enough time allotted to complete the Evaluation Report in a quiet place? Were you informed about pollinator gardens? How many? (Please use comments section to add details if necessary.) 2 at Windmill Gardens Was there a wrap-up session at the end of the tour? Comments: The tour primarily was focused on Downtown Holland, the historic district, Hope College, and Windmill Gardens. We would have liked to have seen the other business districts that were mentioned in the community profile and residential areas of Holland so that a well-rounded evaluation could have been done. DEFINITIONS (determined by who owns and/or manages the property) Municipal: city hall and other municipal properties, parks and open spaces, roads, roadsides, sidewalks, public cemeteries, public schools/universities/colleges, sports facilities, empty lots and brownfields, libraries, hospitals, public railway and bus stations Business: commercial and industrial sectors, shopping centers, stores, office buildings, restaurants, mixed use developments, service stations, private railway and bus stations, plant nurseries, garden centers, assisted living/nursing home/graduated care facilities, apartment buildings, hotels, private hospitals, churches, not for profit/civic organizations, private cemeteries, private schools/universities/colleges, residential common areas managed by associations Residential: single family residences, town houses, individual homes in planned/gated/manufactured home communities, residential neighborhoods or developments Community Involvement: volunteer efforts by individuals, clubs, youth groups, church groups, civic organizations, volunteer municipal boards, and social clubs for community enhancement 16 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016

17 2016 Special Mentions 2016 Community Recognitions Community: Holland, MI Recognized Criterion: Landscaped Areas The City of Holland Parks Department, Windmill Island Gardens, Downtown Holland Inc, local businesses, senior living residences, and Hope College combine to provide a beautifully landscaped area surrounding the center city. The end result is one of the most attractive urban areas in the country, with only a short walk from naturalized areas to a bustling retail center to a peaceful college environment. Landscapes are tasteful, attractive, and beautifully maintained. Even parking lots have extensive landscapes with interesting designs making a drive or walkabout a delightful experience. Noteworthy Project or Initiative: Community Garden at Windmill Island New in 2016 is the community garden developed on Windmill Island. The location is excellent for the garden and the first year exceeded expectations with 21 plots beautifully tended. In the spring it is a large tulip bed that was formerly left to go to turf after tulip bulbs were removed. Now it is complete with a fence to protect plants from the local wildlife and ground cover cloth serves as the walkways between individual gardens. The owners of the plots are given 10 free plants and offered classes by the Windmill Island Horticulture staff to help them plan, plant and maintain a successful garden. There is a water source and potting shed where tools can be stored. America in Bloom Planting Pride in Our Communities 2130 Stella Court, Columbus, OH (614) Fax (614) aib@americainbloom.org 17 Holland, Michigan 2016 All rights reserved. America in Bloom 2016