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Congratulations KDB + YOU Film Contest Award Winners!

Keep Denton Beautiful's Special Projects Committee is pleased to showcase the award winning films from our inaugural KDB + YOU Film Contest.

The contest engaged local students with the mission of KDB, to create a clean and beautiful Denton, while tapping into the creative Dentonite spirit. Winning films were awarded a $50 cash prize and an honorable mention was also given. We hope you enjoy!

Award Recipients

Keep Denton Beautiful by Oskar Shields

Yard Wars!

Honorable Mention

Mother Nature VS Garbage Man

Oskar Sheilds check presentation
Yard Wars! check presentation to the crew.
Yard Wars! crew having fun during presentation.

Keep Denton Beautiful by Oskar Shields

Credits
  • Oskar Shields: Director; Writer; Producer; Key Cast

Yard Wars!

Credits:
  • Noah Waddell: Director; Cast - Neighbor 1
  • Melody Henry: Director; Editor
  • Cooper Clark: Cast - Neighbor 2
  • Katelyn Stone: Cast - Little Girl; Camera
  • Beckie Mason: Cast - Neighbor 3
  • Alexis Morino: Sound Op
  • Ania Mangwiro: Camera
  • Cindy Tran: Camera

Mother Nature VS Garbage Man

Credits:
  • Lorenzo Cañizares: Director; Writer; Producer; Cast - Invisible Woman
  • Bea Cañizares: Cast - Mother Nature/ Girl
  • Emma Campbell: Cast - Mother Nature
  • Jaxon Hess: Cast - Garbage Man, Invisible Woman

2019-20 KDB Grant Awards

Since 2007, KDB has given out grants for environmental education and neighborhood beautification projects to Denton area schools and community groups. This year, KDB awarded a total of $4,957 in grant funding to seven groups. These grants funded school projects to build rain gardens and continued construction of a greenhouse. Through the projects, students are not only able to learn about the environment, but how to become better stewards of the environment. The neighborhood beautification projects funded this year include the construction of pollinator gardens, entryway revitalization, native plant landscaping, and a bike rack and art garden both at one local business. The grants seek to beautify spaces in Denton while nurturing a sense of community pride, and we think this year’s projects did just that!

Total amount in grants: $4,957

Neighborhood Beautification Grants – $3,957

  • Denton Assistance Center, Inc. (Serve Denton) – $1000
  • Good Samaritan Society – Denton Village – $1,000
  • SCRAP Denton - $532
  • Solutions of North Texas - $975
  • Southridge Recreation Club - $450

Environmental Education Grants – $1,000

  • Immaculate Conception Catholic School – $500
  • Koan School – $500
Immaculate Conception Catholic School grant presentation for continued work on their greenhouse.
Koan School receives check for a rain garden to prevent flooding.
Good Samaritan - Denton Village receives check for a pollinator garden.
SCRAP Denton receives check for a bike rack and art garden.
Serve Denton receives check for native plant landscaping.
Solutions of North Texas grant presentation for native plant landscaping.
Southridge Recreation Club receives check for landscaping.

These grants were generously underwritten by the following sponsors:

City of Denton Watershed logo and Peterbilt logo

An Inside Look at KDB’s Yard of the Month Program

YOM Header

Lantana, Turk’s cap, and buffalo grass, oh my! Keep Denton Beautiful's Yard of the Month recognizes Denton residents who contribute to the overall aesthetics and health of our city by maintaining exceptionally clean and beautiful properties. Often, homeowners describe their yards as long-term experiments or labors of love. Their yard is not only their property, but a way to invest in the community, be a good neighbor, and promote a sustainable environment.

“When we first moved in the yard was pretty much nonexistent and had been totally neglected. All the planting beds were just weeds, no ornamentals. Everything we do in our yard is to reduce water and bring pollinators. I rarely water the planting beds and water the lawn deeply about every 2 weeks. I always keep my grass at 4 inches and routinely top dress with Dynolite.” Nathan Reed, Oct. 2019 Winning Yard Recipient

Nominations for the program are open to the public year-round with awards presented from March through November of each year. KDB volunteer Judges recognize several Yards of the Month from all over Denton with our signature yard signs. We sat down with Beverly McClure, an experienced judge, to hear what she values about the program.

Q & A

Q: When and how did you hear about the Yard of the Month Program? How long have you been volunteering as a Judge?

A : I first heard about the Yard of the Month in the Denton Record Chronicle, it peaked my interest as I had seen the Yard signs in beautifully landscaped yards for years. I have enjoyed volunteering as a Judge for 3 years.

Q: What is your favorite thing about the Yard of the Month program?

A: There are several reasons why I have so much fun serving as a Judge. I have learned a lot about gardening, designing, native plants by observing people's yards, what plants thrive in the Denton landscapes, what plants and bushes thrive well together, and observing people's yards has given me great ideas for my yard. I am fascinated by the ideas other people use in their yards, they deserve to be recognized for the thought and hard work they put into their yard. Another reason serving as a Judge is meaningful to me is meeting the homeowners, hearing their different and unique stories of their choices for their yard, plants, water features and wildlife. Also, I feel Denton is a great community of people, volunteering as a Judge is a great way to give back to the community, contribute toward a sustainable, and healthy environment for us and residents of Denton to come all without a huge time commitment.

Q: Why do you think public nominations are an important piece of the program?

A: Public nominations are crucial to recognizing the hard work so many people put into their yards. It is impossible for the volunteer Judges to find every nook and cranny in Denton. Denton residents drive through the streets of Denton every day observing landscapes, they can be so helpful by making a quick call giving the address.

Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for individuals considering volunteering to be a judge?

A: Volunteering as a Judge with the Yard of the Month is fulfilling, fun, interesting, and rewarding. The Judges get back so much more than the few hours invested monthly. It is a very positive experience for the Volunteer Judge, without needing prior experience.

For more information about the program, how to nominate a yard, and the application to become a volunteer Judge visit the Yard of the Month webpage.