The Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers became the third major organization to honor Garland’s Downtown Project, bestowing downtown-related honors in three categories at its June 6 awards banquet in San Antonio.
The Oct. 14, 2023, grand opening was recognized as the state’s Best One-Time Special Event. The Heritage Crossing Museum’s scavenger hunt at the Grand Opening was judged as the state’s Best Use of a Promotional Item. Downtown revitalization was an Award of Honor recipient (third place) in the category of Best Marketing Plan Campaign.
Early this spring, Garland’s Downtown Square and Streetscapes Project won the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Real Estate Deals Award in the Community Impact category. Through the Construction Management Association of America, Garland’s project was on May 16 named the winner of the 2024 North Texas Project Achievement Award for Government Projects under $50 million in value.
The square and 14 blocks of streetscapes were rebuilt over two years to create a stronger sense of connectivity and walkability. The downtown makeover was a massive undertaking, representing a full redesign of over 60,000 square feet. Construction used 45 tons of structural steel, 5 tons of concrete and 650 tons of stone. It added 1,300 square feet of new shade structures, over 290 new light fixtures, 400 feet of wall seating and 100 new chairs. The redesign also included extensive landscaping, with an impressive 68 new trees, over 280 large grasses and plants, and 5,000-plus flowers and small plants.
Overall, Garland won six Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers awards. The city was recognized with the TAMI Award (first place) for Special or One-Time Video for a five-minute presentation that helped earn state recognition for the Bankhead Cultural Arts District.
An Award of Excellence (second place) in Flyers and Posters was given for a promotional item related to last summer’s Garland and Beyond NASA exhibit at City Hall. Another Award of Excellence went to “Jingle Them Bells” in the category of Best Use of Humor Video.
Information and photo provided by city of Garland.