The City of Sulphur Springs received the 2016 Municipal Excellence Award in the City Spirit category during the Texas Municipal League 104th Annual Conference and Exhibition at the Austin Convention Center.
It is on behalf of the City’s downtown - Celebration District.
“It is such an honor to receive this award. Thankful for our town and the people in it,” said City of Sulphur Springs Mayor Emily Glass.
The City was presented this award in the division under 25,000 population at the Conference held from October 4-7.
“This is the first time for us to receive this recognition for our downtown,” said City Manager Marc Maxwell. “It is a big award. We are delighted but not surprised. Downtown has turned out fantastic.”
Many surrounding cities in East Texas are trying to duplicate the success Sulphur Springs has had in a reconstruction that spanned from 2005 to present.
Some history on the Celebration Plaza and District…According to Rachael Pitts of the Texas Municipal League, less than ten years ago, the City of Sulphur Spring’s downtown district suffered from high vacancy rates. Today, the district has transformed into a bustling center of economic and social activity through thoughtful design, vision, and investment.
To accomplish the transformation, the city hired experts to help rebrand the city and revive the downtown area. To encourage private investment, the city offered façade grants. Many retailers and restaurants have located in the downtown district and more are on the way. At the heart of the new downtown district is Celebration Plaza, which hosts numerous activities and events each year. The Sulphur Springs Celebration District redevelopment project has brought new life to the entire community – building community pride as well as attracting new residents and businesses.
The Texas Municipal League is a voluntary association of 1,150 Texas cities. Its primary objective is to serve the needs and advocate the interests of Texas cities. The City of Sulphur Springs is a member of the Texas Municipal League.
