Alexandria beautification commission names 2025 award winners
Nineteen properties recognized for sustainable landscaping, native plants
The Alexandria Beautification Commission announced Monday the winners of its 2025 Beautification Awards, recognizing 19 properties across the city for sustainable landscaping and environmental stewardship.
The commission selected the winners from more than 50 nominations in three categories: residential, residential street, and community awards.
“These property owners have shown dedication to enhancing Alexandria’s beauty,” according to a city news release.
Residential winners
Eight properties received residential beautification awards for using their yards to educate neighbors about the benefits of native plants, pollinators, and energy efficiency. Most have minimized or replaced lawns with native plants and artistic accents, according to the commission.
The winning gardens feature certified wildlife habitats and native blooms, including serviceberry, buttonbush, coreopsis, milkweed, coneflowers, and phlox. All winners nurture their plants without the use of pesticides.
Residential winners are:
18 S. Hudson St.
34 S. Ingram St.
1310 N. Chambliss St.
523 N. Paxton St.
217 E. Custis Ave.
2621 E. Randolph Ave.
921 Duke St.
634 N. Payne St.
Street awards
The commission introduced a new residential street award category this year to recognize blocks where multiple households have adopted sustainable landscaping practices.
Three streets received awards:
East Alexandria Avenue (409/411)
East Nelson Avenue (519/521/545/547/551/555)
Park Road (205/212/301/303/311)
Community awards
Eight community sites were honored for sustainability initiatives, including LEED Silver-certified buildings, rain gardens, and native trees that cool heat islands in parking lots.
Public art projects were also recognized, including murals featuring portraits with quotes from social justice leaders and a loading dock door adorned with Virginia’s state flower, the dogwood.
Community winners include:
AlexRenew
Auburn Village Condominium
Chinquapin Community Garden
Patrick Henry Elementary School & Recreation Center
Linder Academy Murals
Garden Del Ray
Torpedo Factory Art Center Loading Door Mural
Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing
The commission gave honorable mentions to the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale, Episcopal Church of Saint Clement and Christ the King Anglican Church.
The commission defines beautification as improvements, including landscaping, architecture, and sustainable environmental practices that create a healthier community and a higher quality of life.
More information is available at alexandriava.gov/beautification.