Shavano Park applying for grant that could help fund beautification of Northwest Military Highway

The city of Shavano Park is applying for the Governor’s Community Achievement Award grant, which if awarded, could help to support beautification efforts along the town’s segment of Northwest Military Highway.

City Council on Jan. 23 was briefed by city staff on the award program, which the Texas Department of Transportation and the organization Keep Texas Beautiful have used to honor Texas communities for their overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful.

According to Keep Texas Beautiful, 10 winning communities will share $2 million in landscaping awards from TXDoT, with the amount based on population size.

The funds would used for landscaping projects along state rights-of-way. The 2023 awards process opened Jan. 3 and closes Feb. 16, Keep Texas Beautiful said.

According to award program rules, a community’s eligibility is judged on achievements in seven areas:

• Community leadership and coordination
• Public awareness and outreach
• Environmental education and youth engagement
• Beautification and community improvement
• Litter prevention and cleanup
• Solid waste and management
• Litter law and illegal dumping enforcement

City officials said they are working with a city-appointed Northwest Military Highway Beautification Committee to submit an application for the award and would continue working with the panel if Shavano Park were to be awarded a grant.