Richmond TX Receives Scenic City Certification

RICHMOND, TX — The city of Richmond was one of 23 Texas cities to be designated as a Scenic City by Scenic Texas, a Houston-based non-profit dedicated to preserving and enhancing Texas' natural beauty.

The Scenic City Certification Program is the first in the United States to incorporates, what Scenic Texas calls, "a comprehensive set of model standards for design and development of public roadways and public spaces into one program."

Cities apply to the program for a what is described as a "rigorous evaluation and scoring of existing municipal standards against a model." The cities that test best against the model earn certification.

Want more Sugar Land and Fort Bend County news? Click here for our free daily newsletter and breaking news

Much of the public considers a scenic city designation as just another marketing tool for the local chambers of commerce, like being designated the alligator or barbecue capital of Texas. For urban planners the designation provides a clear path for future growth.

"A detailed 360° analysis of existing infrastructure standards supplies cities with a roadmap for future growth and development," Anne Culver, executive vice president of Scenic Texas, said in a press release announcing Richmond's designation.