Arlington Earns Prominent Scenic City Certification
By Office of Communication
Posted on October 11, 2019, October 11, 2019

The City of Arlington is honored to be among 22 Texas cities recognized as 2019 Certified Scenic City award recipients through the Scenic City Certification Program, a program of Scenic Texas and its 17 partner organizations.
The City of Arlington is honored to be among 22 Texas cities recognized as 2019 Certified Scenic City award recipients through the Scenic City Certification Program, a program of Scenic Texas and its 17 partner organizations.

The Scenic City Certification Program recognizes cities for their demonstrated commitment to high-quality scenic standards for public roadways and spaces. The City of Arlington was presented with its gold-level certification this week during the Texas Municipal League annual conference in San Antonio.

This program is a nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind model developed to provide communities with a comprehensive set of standards and evaluations for the design and development of public roadways and spaces. Any Texas city may apply to the Scenic City Certification Program for an objective review of its existing municipal infrastructure ordinances as they relate to the model standards. Assessment is points-based, and every city applicant receives a detailed, scored evaluation that identifies both strengths and areas for improvement. Official certification is earned by cities that score points in the upper range and meet threshold standards for landscaping, tree planting, and sign regulation.

"Through the Scenic City Certification Program, cities access a low cost, high rate-of-return diagnostic tool,” said Sarah Tober, Scenic Texas Executive Director. “The detailed evaluation of existing infrastructure standards provides cities with a roadmap for future growth and development. As municipalities continue to aspire to certification and our highest level of recognition, platinum, it is a reflection of communities working to make a more scenic Texas for citizens and visitors.”

Joining Scenic Texas as partners in the Scenic City Certification Program are the Texas Municipal League, Urban Land Institute — Austin and Houston, Urban Land Institute — San Antonio, American Planning Association Texas, Houston-Galveston Area Council, American Council of Engineering Companies Houston, Hill Country Alliance, Keep Texas Beautiful, Texas Downtown Association, Texas Economic Development Council, Texas Historical Commission, Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT), Texas Association of Regional Councils, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Scenic Houston, and Scenic America.

“The Gold certification from Scenic Texas demonstrates that the City Council and citizens of Arlington place a high value on the appearance of their community. Beautifully landscaped public spaces, tree preservation and properly scaled signage contribute to Arlington’s visual appeal as a premier city for families and business. This award is yet another example of the importance that Arlington leaders place on a well-balanced quality of life," said Richard Gertson, Planning and Development Services assistant director. 

Through the Scenic City Certification Program, Scenic Texas provides educational resources to Texas cities that are establishing or revising ordinances that impact the streetscapes. Additionally, Scenic Texas supports urban forestry projects, tree planting and preservation initiatives, the creation of scenic roads and districts, the establishment and funding of parks and green space, the forestation of our highways, and the preservation of historic areas.

Arlington City Council members Andrew Piel, Marvin Sutton, Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers, Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley and Dr. Ignacio Nunez

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