Award-Winning City

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Monrovia is an All-America City!

In 1995, the National Civic League recognized the City of Monrovia as an All-America City. This recognition is given to communities that use inclusive civic engagement to address critical issues and create a stronger connection among residents, businesses, and nonprofits. The City was named a finalist in 2023 and, most recently, a winner in 2024! To watch a short video of our most recent win, check out the KGEM YouTube channel

Awards and Recognitions

The City of Monrovia has been recognized for excellence in many sections of its planning, development, implementation, and service. The city is dedicated to providing a premier quality of life and does so through its level of service to residents, businesses, and visitors to our community. It’s an honor to have the work be recognized by various organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. The following a few of the awards and recognitions the City has received over the last several years:

2024

2023

2023 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – 3rd Place Best Neighborhood Program for MAPconnect.
2023 GFOA Awards for Excellence in Government Finance, Creative Solution to a Common Challenge
2023 GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
2023 Beacon Media’s Reader’s Choice for Best Library
2023 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) State Award, Excellence in Design – Park Planning for Lucinda Garcia Park
2023 San Gabriel Valley’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Farmer’s Market
2023 San Gabriel Valley’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Favorite Friendly City/Downtown
2023 Beacon Media’s Readers’ Choice for Best Farmers Market – Monrovia Street Fair and Market
2023 Beacon Media’s Readers’ Choice for Best Shopping District – Old Town Monrovia
Certificate of Recognition for Veterans Services from California State Senator Portantino

2022

2022 – American Association of Code Enforcement – National Accreditation – First agency in California
May 2022 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Program Finalist (national) – Virtual MAP Conference

2022 Hey SoCal Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Library

2022 GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

2021

2020

2020 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 13: Community Services Award for Monrovia Community Garden Leadership Team
2020 Southern California Association of Governments Sustainability Award of Merit, Green Region – Resource Conservation and Climate Action Award for Monrovia Community Garden Pilot Program
2020 Community Partnership Award, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) - GoMonrovia
2020 Strategic Leadership & Governance Award, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) - Monrovia Renewal

2019

May 2019 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Program/Social Revitalization - Neighborliness Finalist (National competition) – MAP Neighborhood Treasurers Program
2019 - The 18th annual Mosaic Arts International Exhibition Series selected the Bob Bartlett Memorial as one of only 19 architectural and site-specific mosaics from around the world to be recognized.
2019 Monrovia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Military Service & Stewardship Award for our Veterans Resource Center
2019 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) State Award in the Marketing and Communications Award of Excellence Category for the Monrovia Today Publication
2019 Chapter President’s Award, Southern California Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) - GoMonrovia

2018

2018 California Preservation Award Winner -Monrovia Santa Fe Depot
2018 GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
2018 Beacon Media Readers' Choice for Best Local Festival and Shopping District
2018 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 13: Facility or Park Planning and Design Award for the Julian Fisher Park Design

2017

2017-18 – Community Development Commission/Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles – Certification of Performance – City of Monrovia CDBG Program
2017 – 5^th Annual Congressional Recognition of Excellence Program – Grace Napolitano, Member of Congress – Certificate of Congressional Recognition – City of Monrovia’s CDBG Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program
2017 Beacon Media Readers' Choice for Best Shopping District, Local Festival, New Restaurants, Local Charity
2017 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 13: Health, Wellness and Community Life Award for the Ban on Smoking and Tobacco Use in City Parks
Certificate of Recognition for SciLab Youth Programming from California State Assemblymember Holden
2017 – The Monrovia Police Department was recognized by the California Regional Community Policing Institute with a second “James Q. Wilson Finalist Award” for the “Achieving Community Trust (ACT) Program.”

2016

May 2016 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Program/Social Revitalization – Neighborliness – 2^ndPlace (National competition) – MAP Youth Leadership Academy Program
May 2016 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition/Government, Quasi Government – 1^st Place (National competition) – MAP Neighborhood News Newsletter
May 2016 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Award/Physical Revitalization/Beautification – 2^ndPlace (National competition) – MAP Care for Your Neighborhood Program
2016 California Association of Park and Recreation Commissioners & Board Members (CAPRCBM) Special Project Award for Station Square Park

2015 and Earlier

1996 – President Bill Clinton visited Monrovia to recognize Monrovia as the “National model” for Community Activist Policing programs.
1998 – International Association of Chiefs of Police – “Webber” Seavey Award for Excellence” recognized the Monrovia Police Department’s Community Activist Policing Program as one of the three best community-based programs worldwide.
2002 – California Association of Code Enforcement – Innovation Program Award – City of Monrovia’s Code Enforcement Neighborhood Pride Program
2003 – State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation recognized the Monrovia Police Department for a 100 years of Community Activist Policing efforts.
May 2008 – Los Angeles County Federal Executive Board Award (1^st Place Award) – MAP Program
May 2008 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Program Award Finalist/Physical Revitalization (National competition) – MAP Program
December 2008 – The City of Monrovia was named an American City & County Crown Community Award winner for 2008 for the MAP Program
January 2009 – Honorable mention for the National Community Development Association (NCDA) 2009 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award – MAP Program
July 2009 – National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Award of Merit – Program Innovation in Community Revitalization – MAP Program
LEED Silver Certification for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for the library building’s environmental-friendly design
June 2010 – Los Angeles Section American Planning Association (APA) Special Award of Merit for “Planning Excellence for Grassroots Initiative” – MAP Program
December 2010 – One of the ten finalists for the University of Kansas Community Toolbox “Out of the Box Prize,” International competition – MAP Program
2010 – The Monrovia Police Department received the CISCO Community Policing Finalist Award for our various CAP programs
May 2011 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Best Neighborhood Program – 2^nd Place (National competition) – MAP Adult Leadership Academy Program
May 2011 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Neighborhood of the Year/Social Revitalization – 3^rd Place (National competition) – Sherman Avenue Neighborhood Partnership
May 2011 – Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) – Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods (National competition) – Honoree MAP Neighborhood Leader – Larry Spicer
2012 - California Regional Community Policing Institute with a “James Q. Wilson Finalist Award” for the Community Policing Institute with a “James Q. Wilson Finalist Award” for the Community Activist Policing programs.
2015 California Chapter of the American Planning Association - Old Town Monrovia Great Place in California
2015 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 13: Community Services Award for Monrovia Canyon Park Volunteers

Monrovia celebrates its 30th year as a Tree City USA!

Everywhere you look in Monrovia, the landscape is filled with mature trees adding to the beauty and health of Monrovia. We are recognized as a California Tree City.

Oak Trees have a special place in our community, officially protected in our Municipal Code.

We hold an Annual Arbor Day Ceremony the last Friday in April to celebrate the benefits of trees in our community and plant new trees. This event is hosted by our youth, led by the Monrovia Teen Advisory Board and Monrovia Youth Commission.

Our Parks crew regularly trims our trees to keep them healthy and safe.