Community Corner

Boston Parks And Recreation: Winners Of Mayor's Garden Contest Announced

See the latest announcement from Boston Parks and Recreation.

August 31, 2021

Mayor Kim Janey recently announced the winners of the 25th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest with a grand prize provided by JetBlue and prize packages donated by Mahoney’s Garden Centers. The Mayor’s Garden Contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods. 

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“I am proud to carry on Boston’s tradition of commemorating those who help keep our neighborhoods vibrant and inviting,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “I first learned the joys of gardening from my grandmother and have continued in my own community. This contest is a great way to affirm our city’s dedication to beautifying urban spaces, and plant a seed of interest in the next generation of gardeners.”

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First place winners received the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Janey while second and third place winners were awarded certificates. First place winners were entered into a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of roundtrip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston and also received a pair of tickets to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Gift certificates were provided by Mahoney’s Garden Centers to the top three winners in each category as well as the 2021 Hall of Fame winners.

This year’s winners:

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Sally Reyering of Beacon Hill, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winners Jan and Errol Uys of Dorchester, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third-place winner Christa Comeau of the Back Bay, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

First Place: Sunny Ha - Brighton

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Pasqualino Cerro of Hyde Park, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Third Place: Amina Shabani - Brighton

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Jessica von Ammon of Roxbury holding daughter Ivy Gibbs (aged 6), and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Linda Sklar of Jamaica Plain, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third-place winners John Jenkins and Carey Moffitt-Jenkins with three-year-old twins Lila and Lily of Allston, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with first-place winner Julia Fairclough of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, Franco Campanello accepting the award on behalf of second-place winner Doug Gifford of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third place winner Jill Christians of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Stephen Smith and Richard Allsbrook of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Amy Galblum of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with third-place winner Michael Bresinski of West Roxbury and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Stephanie and Alex Tsalagas of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Cindy Joyce of the Back Bay, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with third-place winners Bev Christians and Chris Hartmann of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Craig and Kimberly McNulty of the Fenway, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Second Place: John Ruiz - Fenway-Kenmore

Third Place: Dionna Di Pierro and Steven Davy - Fenway-Kenmore

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Janice Dunlevy of Dorchester, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Maria Termini of Roslindale, Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Third Place: Arlene Simon - Dorchester

Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White-Hammond with representatives from the first-place winner Carroll Thomas Funeral Home of Hyde Park 

Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White Hammond with representatives from second-place winner Friends of Christopher Columbus Park of the North End

Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White-Hammond with representatives from third-place winner Fairmount Hill Neighborhood Association of Hyde Park

Gardeners who have won three or more times are automatically entered into the Hall of Fame and will be recognized at the awards ceremony. These distinguished Hall-of-Famers will be ineligible to enter as contestants but are welcome to return as judges. The 2021 Hall of Fame inductees are:


This press release was produced by Boston Parks and Recreation. The views expressed here are the author’s own.