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KLB, TxDOT begin mosaic, sign landscaping project
BREAKING GROUND - Keep Texas Beautiful recognized Keep Levelland Beautiful as one of 10 winners of the Governor’s Community Achievement Award. Working together with the Texas Department of Transportation, the plan is to build a mosaic wall at the corner of Highway 385 and 300 with the awarded $160,000 from the award received. Pictured from left to right are: Alex Mendoza, Justin Balderas, Kelly Hancock, Neil Welch, Steven Warren, Barbara Pinner, Mary Siders, Pauline Mills, Crystal Isaccks, Donna Pugh, Michael Stueart, Breann Buxkemper, Tammy Franklin, Ann Capps, Max Ledesma and Dianna Stueart. (Staff photo by Emily Campos)
Keep Texas Beautiful or KTB recognized Keep Levelland Beautiful as one of 10 winners of the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards for outstanding community improvement.
KTB, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, has awarded the GCAA to Texas communities for more than 50 years. Keep Levelland Beautiful received $160,000 for a landscaping project.
Plans are to create a Mosaic wall to be placed at the corner of Highway 385 and 300. Six new mosaics will be included on the wall. Levelland became the “City of Mosaics” in 2019 and with this monument the city will have a total of 106. A mosaic is a 6,000year-old art technique in which cubes of glass tile are fixed in a pattern to make a work of art.
Kelly Hancock with Keep Levelland Beautiful said, “the award is one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. A community’s environmental program is judged by a group of diverse, multisector judges on achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas: public awareness and outreach, environmental education, beautification and community improvement, litter prevention and cleanup, solid waste management, litter law and illegal dumping enforcement.”
KLB is extremely excited and proud to receive this award. Mary Siders, President of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce said “in previous years the chamber members were surveyed and indicated they wanted to see community cleanliness as a priority. The chamber contracted with the City of Levelland to coordinate the efforts.
At that time, the Levelland Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee and staff decided the KTB model was the best fit for the community. Siders said after attending the KTB training seminar, they noticed on the State of Texas map in the awards program, there were no winners in West Texas or their part of the state.
The goal became placing a star in the South Plains indicating a West Texas win. Siders continued explaining that the committees, task forces and city council made it possible with their vision and commitment. A great working relationship with their local republic service officials and TxDOT opened many doors for them and emphasized how outstanding supporters have been and will remain instrumental as they move forward with the gateway signs.
The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities since 1969, with TxDOT providing landscaping award funding since 1985. The City of Santa Fe, Texas placed second and Graham, Texas was third in the same population size as Levelland.
KTB is a network of dedicated Texans working together to make Texas the best place to live, work and play. They equip local partners and affiliates with the tools needed to build vibrant, engaged communities. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful has more than 50 years of experience deploying resources for local clean-up, recycling, and youth engagement efforts. Everything they do is focused on mobilizing volunteers to act across the state. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, they lead nearly 300 affiliates and reach 17 million Texans annually.
KLB is a mission to improve the community’s appearance through partnerships, education and action. KLB has been named a Gold Star Affiliate for four consecutive years.