ABOUT THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE

The Town of Ocean City Beautification Committee is appointed and commissioned by the Mayor and City Council to help determine the needs of the town for the planting, maintenance, and protection of all trees on the streets and in the parks of Ocean City and to make referrals for the enforcement of the landscape code.  They are, also, the appeals board for city landscape code violations.

Donna Greenwood serves as the Chairperson of the committee and the members are Elizabeth Dare, Katy Durham, Mary Ann Manganello, Maryellen Rosenblit and Betty Bellarin. The committee is always looking for new members who must be Ocean City residents Please contact Donna Greenwood at 410-289-7060 if you are interested.

The Beautification Committee works in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks to bring the beauty of the trees and color to our barrier island town.  For many years, Ocean City has been the recipient of the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA Award and the MD P.L.A.N.T. Award administered by the Maryland Community Forest Committee.

 

Some of Our Projects are:

Reflections of Life Tree: The Reflections of Life project provides a distinctive means of recording important events and interests in the lives of individuals, their loved ones and businesses by placing a gift of a bronze, silver or gold leaf or stepping stone on the impressive “Reflections of Life” tree mounted inside the lobby entrance of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on 40th St. and Coastal Hwy. For more information about the Reflections of Life tree or to purchase a dedication leaf or stepping stone, contact Elizabeth Dare at 443-235-1160 [email protected].

Partnerships in Bloom Partnerships in Bloom is a collaboration between the Ocean City Beautification Committee (OCBC) and various entities throughout the town. Together, our goal is to bring beauty and joy to Ocean City residents and visitors by placing beautifully planted pots at businesses. For more information or to participate in the Partnerships in Bloom, contact Jenny Martin at 410-289-9485.

Decorating City Hall: Every year the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce hosts a lights decorating contest during the holiday season. The Beautification Committee decorates the outside of City Hall.

In 2020, the Beautification Committee started a new project called Light Up City Hall. It was brought about to bring attention to City Hall, a historic landmark that is the focal point of the downtown area and our community. The trees are lit every night at dusk year round. The trees are lit by Light It Up LLC.

Arbor Day: Arbor Day has traditionally been celebrated at Northside Park with Ocean City Elementary School (OCES) students by planting a tree. Recently, the tradition has taken place at OCES. In addition to planting a tree, 2nd graders at OCES perform short skits, poems and sing. Tree City USA and MD P.L.A.N.T. Community Awards are presented to the Mayor. For more information about Arbor Day events please contact Donna Greenwood at 410-289-7060.

Beauty Spot Awards: Spring is the time when everyone begins to think about summer gardens. Garden centers fill with beautifully colored plants of every size and shape. If your fingers are itching to dig in the dirt and put a lovely array of greens and flowers on your property, a Beauty Spot Award is something you can strive to achieve.

Each year the Ocean City Beautification Committee searches for properties which are attractive, well maintained and pleasing to the eye. To show appreciation for this effort in civic pride, the Beautification Committee and the Mayor and City Council present Beauty Spot Awards in eight categories.

Judging is based on creative landscaping or containers, percentage of flowers and ground cover, percentage of trees, shrubs and grasses. The use of native plants also is encouraged. Even those who have little or no ground can imaginatively use containers, planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, etc., to improve the curb appeal of their property. Efforts to disguise unattractive areas such as dumpsters, service entrances, etc., would also be recognized as an endeavor to beautify the Town of Ocean City.

There are eight categories for judging, with three awards for each except for residential, which has six. Categories are condominium, restaurant, retail, hotel, motel, commercial, Boardwalk and residential. Nominations may be made by anyone – the property owner, a friend, neighbor, patron or passerby.

To nominate a property, please (if possible) give property owner’s name, street address, phone number and your name with a phone number. Call Donna Greenwood, chairperson of the Beautification Committee, at 410-289-7060 or mail to the Beautification Committee at Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department, 200 125th Street, Ocean City, MD 21842 or email us at [email protected]

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Mayor's Pond