Hammond has regained its the title of Louisiana’s Cleanest City
After a two-year hiatus, one year when the contest was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year ago when the city did not enter because it was in the throes of Hurricane Ida recovery, Hammond was awarded Cleanest City for Category 8 by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.
The city beat out Gretna for the award.
Hammond had won the award for 13 consecutive years before the pandemic canceled the contest.
Several factors are considered in the judging process, including the approaches to the city limits, public/municipal buildings including schools, churches, hospitals, libraries, fire stations, city hall, nursing homes, well-maintained lawns and fences, and absence of litter; parks and recreation areas; cemeteries; business establishments; residential areas; streets; sidewalks; neutral grounds; community involvement; and overall impression of cleanliness.
Lisa Lambert, public information officer for the city, said three judges made two inspections of the city, the first for the district competition March 22 and the second April 25 for state consideration.
Lambert said city officials will bring the judges, all of whom are presidents of their local garden clubs, on a pre-determined route of the city. The route will traditionally start at the mall and meander its way through Hammond and include historic downtown and the Southeastern Louisiana University area.
In the week or so leading up to the judging, Lambert said many employees and residents helped tidy up the city, but she added the process is ongoing.
“You can’t win this contest by going out and cleaning the route a week before,” Lambert said. “You can’t. We have people that pick up litter year around, people picking up litter every day.”
She said work crews pick up litter in every district.
“We work on it for a really long time,” she said. “We do take pride in (the award).”