PHILADELPHIA – On Friday, November 8, officials joined Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs-Shipman and the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) in announcing the top four winners of the annual Clean Block Contest. The announcement was made at the annual Clean Block Banquet hosted at the IATSE Ballroom. The blocks in the contest were judged for engagement of block residents, cleanliness, beautification efforts, and property improvements.

The four top winners selected from among the 25 blocks competing in this year’s contest are as follows:

  • 1st place – $1,000                    500 McKinley Street (Northeast Philadelphia)
  • 2nd place – $ 700                      800 N Bailey Street (Fairmount)
  • 3rd place – $ 500                      5700 Howard Street (Olney)
  • 4th place – $300                       2200 Mascher Street (North Philadelphia)

The remaining blocks will each receive $150. The prize money is to be used for worthwhile clean block projects.

In addition to the Clean Block Awards, PMBC announced its Community Spirit Award winners. The Community Spirit Awards recognizes the special contributions PMBC blocks make in their communities.  The three categories – Junior Block Captain of the Year Award, the Transformation Award for Beautification Projects, and the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Award- truly represent organized blocks maintaining livability, recapturing their strength, and working to keep their block from declining.

Junior Block Captain Award
Jordan Legacki

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Award
Ameen Smith

Neighborhood Transformation Award
2200 block of N. Mascher Street

This year, the Sanitation Department instituted two new Commissioner Awards to honor and acknowledge Clarena Tolson and Carlton Williams, in their roles as former Streets Commissioner. Each was acknowledged for their dedication to city service, and they were thanked for their unique gifts that have motivated and inspired others. The Clarena Tolson “Love Where You Live Award” was presented to Block Captain Stephanie Jacobs, as a leader that cares for others and embodies the sentiments of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. The Carlton Williams “Clean Block Champion Award” was presented to Block Captain Jessie Coriano as a leader that is committed to investing the time and resources to advocate for, motivate, develop and encourage others.

The PMBC Awards Banquet is the culmination of a busy season of block cleaning and beautification efforts. PMBC, a part of the Sanitation Department, is an urban environmental partnership. The program has ties as far back as 1938 when a newly immigrated resident, Sigrid Craig approached city officials about efforts to clean street in the city. The program became known as the “Clean Up, Paint Up, Fix Up” Campaign. In 1953, the campaign began collaborating with a police sanitation unit and the Sanitation Department. The program was formalized in 1965 with the formation of the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee.  Through its network, more than 6,500 block captains participate, promoting civic pride, public safety, and neighborhood empowerment among block captains, community group leaders and their units.

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