Nebraska City, Neb., April 12, 1999--The Wilshire Center Streetscape Project, Los Angeles, California, will receive one of two 1999 Lady Bird Johnson Awards from The National Arbor Day Foundation at a special awards ceremony to be held here on Saturday, May 1. The award honors those who exemplify leadership in roadside beautification.
The Wilshire Center Streetscape Project is recognized for its work to re-establish Wilshire Boulevard as a thriving business district following the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The enhancement of the area has included planting 3,500 trees, filling newly constructed medians with flowers and trees, and placing 330 huge flower pots along sidewalks. Since the project began, many businesses have returned to the riot-damaged area.
The ceremony is part of the Arbor Day weekend celebration held in Nebraska City from April 30-May 2.
Others being honored this year include the Garden Club of Stone Harbor, New Jersey, winner of the second 1999 Lady Bird Johnson Award for their beautification work of a long stretch of traffic islands, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, winner of the J. Sterling Morton Award for his leadership in revitalizing Chicago's urban forest.
The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship.