Yard of the Month Contest Guidelines

Keep Village Of Oak Park Beautiful Program has been established to promote goodwill and reward exemplary lawn care in the community. The purpose of the program is to recognize neighbors who demonstrate above-average efforts in maintaining their property, thereby contributing to the overall appearance of the community at large. This is a great award and the program is administered entirely by volunteers.

For the months May through October, November scarecrow contest and December Christmas Lighting Contest, the Keep Village Of Oak Park Beautiful Committee will choose a lawn that best typifies the qualities of: uniqueness, beauty, appeal, and consistency with the guidelines. Since the Keep Village Of Oak Park Beautiful Committee will mainly deal with “curb appeal,” nominations will be for front and side yards jointly, as well as the exterior of the house. The Committee will select one residential yard during the first few days of each month. The winner of the Yard of the Month will be provided with a decorative yard sign for display indicating their winning yard, as well as a posting and photo on our community website.

Contest Guidelines

• All residential properties within the Village Oak Park community are automatically eligible.
• Award winners are selected based on the recommended judging criteria listed below.
• Key criteria include manicured yard, beautification, originality and creativity.
• The upkeep of the yard can reflect the efforts of the residents themselves or that of a professional landscaper or groundskeeper.
• An award duration term lasts a single calendar month, and runs from the first day to the last day of that same month.
• The same property cannot receive more than one award in a 12-month calendar period. At least 12 months must elapse between awards for the same yard.
• Recipients receiving awards in the middle of the month shall surrender their award at the end of that same month.
• While an individual’s home is being recognized as a “Yard of the Month,” they are expected to maintain their yard in the same manner that allowed them to win the title.

RECOMMENDED JUDGING CRITERIA

Keep Village Oak Park Beautiful Committee, Yard of the Month candidates are judged solely on the total exterior appearance of their property and front yard as viewed from the street. General upkeep of the yard and property is paramount.Factors include the overall appearance, tidiness and neatness of the front of the property as evidenced by pruned, trimmed and shaped foliage, edged and defined lawns, borders & flower beds, and a visually appealing facade. Each yard will be chosen from the nomination given to the Keep Village Oak Park Beautiful Committee.