Contact Information:

Meg Matthews

Public Relations Manager

mmatthews@littlerock.gov

(501) 804-4822

Media Advisory

What: Landscape Awards Winners Announced

When: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.

Where: City Hall – 500 West Markham Street

The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission announces the winners of the 33^nd annual Landscape Awards. These are given to businesses that go beyond the City’s requirements to develop or improve their landscaping.

While its easy to see landscaping as merely icing on the cake, research has shown that its impact has much more depth.  Landscaping can increase property and resale values, lower energy costs, improve business and sales, and create positive perceptions for areas.

This year’s CBC’s Landscape Award winners will be on hand to discuss what this award means to them. They include:

The Bernice Gardens

1401 S. Main Street

Best Western Premier Governor's Suites

1501 Merrill Drive

US Pizza in Hillcrest

2710 Kavanaugh

A survey in the south showed that almost 3/4 of the public preferred to patronize stores that were well-landscaped, including landscaped parking lots.  Another survey in eight U.S. cities found that businesses with orderly and well-maintained landscapes were rated more highly than others.  Figures from another study indicate the public is willing to pay 10 percent more for products purchased in such green areas.

In addition to economic benefits, plants and landscaping provide environmental and social benefits.  Having a view of nature from one’s office window has been shown to increase employee job satisfaction and reduce feelings of job pressure. Employees with nature views also reported 23 percent fewer health ailments. These Little Rock business that go above and beyond landscaping requirements are well deserving of this recognition.