America in Bloom Symposium – Alexandria, Virginia (2026)
Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:30am – Breakfast at Westin in Alexandria, Virginia
There are moments in life where a convergence occurs among passions and ideas nurtured over a lifetime. All at once one sees how they are connected together in a web of mutual reinforcement and what might some even call destiny.
On the morning of Friday, September 25, 2026, I found myself in Alexandria, Virginia, an hour before the 25th anniversary America in Bloom Symposium kicked off. That means the organization got their start in 2001, around the time I was finishing undergraduate work and just starting grad school at Wayne State University in Detroit. Historic preservation was already foundational to my approach and thinking though it would be seven years until I had an opportunity to lead my first Main Street program.
My grandmother, Patricia Huxtable (nee Underhill) was an early preservation and environmental conservation activist in Michigan. She and her colleagues with the garden club preserved buildings in Okemos, joined a movement to pass the bottle bill, and protected the iconic sand dunes. In her “retirement” she became actively involved in the Garden Club in Traverse City and never missed an opportunity to link together her twin passions of plantings and preservation.
With that pedigree it was no mistake when an opportunity came about earlier this year for Royal Oak as one of the 30 communities in Main Street Oakland County to join America in Bloom – my answer was a resounding yes! For we too in Royal Oak have cultural heritage to celebrate, a well-established program of plantings, and dynamic public spaces. Since starting as Executive Director over a year ago we are working to build up our volunteer participation with over 20 active volunteers that contributed more than 1,000 hours in my first year.
America in Bloom Past President Rodney Barnes, viewing the Centennial Commons in Royal Oak, Michigan, that opened in December 2021.
In June this year we had two advisors visit us for two days and meet with local leaders, and visit our public spaces and locations throughout the downtown. In the months to follow they prepared a professional report with recommendations that we should be receiving tomorrow. This will become a roadmap of sorts for how to further enhance and bring out the potential of our plantings, public spaces, and downtown.
Earlier this month I returned to Wayne State University to complete my Master of Urban Planning after finishing my first graduate degree in historic preservation planning in 2005. I had my weekly local economic development planning course last night before jumping on a plane to take part in the symposium. One reading in particular for this week stuck with me and helped to crystallize why I’m here today. Laura Reese in “Creative Class or Procreative Class: Implications for Local Economic Development Policy,” when answering the question what leads to economic growth, answers: “investments in policies and activities that make the community a better place to live: good local schools, safe streets, parks, libraries, and public buildings and spaces” (Reese, 2012, p. 23).
America in Bloom over the last 25 years has placed a high value on community enhancement, economic development through beautification, environmental initiatives, celebrating heritage, and encouraging community development. Main Street America over the last 45+ years is highly aligned through their commitment to historic preservation and the Main Street Approach that advocates for grassroots action in organization, promotion, design, and economic vitality. As a professional having committed myself to this values throughout my entire life thanks to my grandmother, and through more than 18 years leading five downtown management organizations – I’m excited to add my voice and learn from the 250 leaders from across the country that share a common approach to achieving community vitality.
Friday, September 25, 2026, 8:36am – Keynote by President and CEO Erin Barnes
Erin Barnes, is the self-described “Enthusiastic President and CEO” of Main Street America who recently marked her third year of leadership for this storied and impactful national organization spanning nearly 50 years. She delivered a keynote on the economic and civic importance of “place stewardship,” arguing that downtown beautification should be treated not as a secondary aesthetic consideration but as a core economic-development strategy. She described Main Street America’s nearly 50-year, locally driven model, which balances economic vitality, physical improvements through design, district promotion and marketing, and organizational and civic leadership across nearly 3,000 business districts and more than 318,000 small businesses. The Main Street America network had generated more than $9 billion in local reinvestment, 36,000 net new jobs, and nearly 7,000 net new businesses in the prior year.
Barnes emphasized that visible care—such as flowers, clean sidewalks, lighting, seating, and well-maintained public spaces—signaled safety, stability, and community pride, influencing whether visitors, residents, property owners, and entrepreneurs felt confident spending time and investing in a district. She cited Ferndale, Michigan, where the Downtown Development Authority led by Jennie Beeker (and a Great American Main Street Award winner in 2010) utilized seasonal planting and highly visible maintenance during times people were most likely to visit to improve perceptions of safety and discourage disorder.
She also highlighted Delaware, Ohio’s volunteer-powered sidewalk-cleaning initiative as an example of how shared physical work built social capital, strengthened relationships, and shifted participants from passive users of downtown to long-term caretakers. This story in and of itself was remarkable starting with a “Grandma who owned a bar downtown” who recounted how the fire department used to flush hydrants and use the pressured water to powerwash the downtown. This trend was revived by volunteers during a 24 hour non-stop power-wash-a-palooza to give the downtown a deep clean and strengthen the connections of volunteers with the place through this shared experience.
Barnes further discussed Wisconsin’s Vibrant Spaces grant program, which used relatively modest, flexible matching grants to support multipurpose outdoor spaces, restrooms, lighting, shade, public art, gardens, and other amenities. These investments between $25,000 and $50,000 increased comfort, extended visitor stays, supported local businesses, and in some cases produced measurable foot-traffic gains.
Across these examples, she stressed that lasting revitalization resulted from incremental improvements, local decision-making, and partnerships among municipalities, public works departments, nonprofits, businesses, property owners, volunteers, and state agencies. She concluded that visible improvements helped create a culture of care, built confidence in a place, and encouraged further investment, making beautification an essential condition for business growth, tourism, public health, resident retention, and community identity. Place stewardship and weaving people in to caring for places they love became the call to action provided those in attendance. This message was well received and a great way to start the morning.
As a personal aside, Erin’s mom joined the talk after it started. We made sure she had a table right up front to witness and experience the work and thoughts of her remarkable daughter and native from Alexandria, Virginia. In one respect Erin has come a long way with all of her nationally recognized leadership and accomplishments. In another way her work has brought her right back to the home that helped form her. It was a full circle moment not lost on many in the room.
Friday, September 25, 2026, 8:36am – Coolest Downtown Award
Following remarks of Erin Barnes, the first award of the day was handed out. While I had known that Royal Oak was nominated, it was an utter shock to have us selected from the three semifinalists, also including Lake Orion, Michigan and Greenwood, South Carolina. I have never been to Greenwood but was in Lake Orion in the past two months – and they are a town that gets cool with their eclectic shops and cafes (including one that is a full performance venue), beautiful downtown plantings, and attractive and welcoming public spaces for people of all ages.
Getting back to Royal Oak as I rushed to stage to accept our award, all I could think was to share gratitude to our advisors with America in Bloom, to acknowledge the hard work of our team over the last five months on bringing a permanent restroom proposal forward for Centennial Commons, mention the recently completed 5th Street Plaza, and make a funny quip. It somehow worked for the moment. Then as I processed the moment after taking our photo and sitting down – all the qualities that make Royal Oak “cool” flooded in.
- In the 2020s we tore down our City Hall and built Centennial Commons on its place. Since December 2021 it has attracted over 479,000 people to downtown.
- Over 115 days of programming is provided in Downtown Royal Oak each year with 15 major promotions and events.
- We’re the most visited Main Street in Michigan and the 8th most visited in the U.S. with over 2.79 million visitors in 2025 according to data from Main Street America.
- The Star Gazers fountain and towering statue by Marshall Fredericks creates a quirky offbeat piece of public art that you can’t help but take a second and third look at when passing by – even for regulars.
- We have a unique claim to the top coffee crawl in Michigan with so many business, some also roasting, and serving the most amazing coffee drinks at third places all throughout the downtown.
- Royal Oak Music Theater brings major named acts all throughout the year.
- Stagecrafters is in a 100+ year historic theater and puts on a robust series of community theater performances throughout the year.
- Over 40 bars and restaurants provide regular programming and promotions throughout the year, creating another third place while employing a sizable number of very cool and creative people.
- Arts, Beats & Eats recently completing its 17th season over Labor Day weekend has 11 stages throughout the downtown, and attracts hundreds of performers and artists to take part in the four day event.
- The Summer Concert Series in Centennial Commons was expanded from six to eight week of Thursday night concerts on the Commons.
- Our 100+ year old indoor Farmer’s Market serves double duty as a vibrant community gathering space and hub for food trucks, makers, antique dealers, and even has two resident restaurants.
- Emagine Theater brings first run movies to its multiple screens downtown.
- Pronto/Five15 has a diner, bar, and cafe under one roof, and a cool patio in the back. Their drag queen bingo is a local favorite and they are a visible destination for the LGBTQ community in Michigan and beyond.
- UHF records down the street will school you on the intricacies of every recording every made if you give the time to listen from their skilled and knowledgeable staff.
- A cluster of vintage stores shows how fashion need not be fleeting but can endure – here’s looking at you Vintage Freakazoid, Mood Swing, and the newbie Mulligan’s.
- Learning, books, and reading are baked in with Sidetrack Bookstore and the Caboose for kids, and the jam packed PaperTrail books.
- We now have a chocolatier who makes their products in Michigan and opened their second retail location in Royal Oak earlier this year.
- Many salons, stylists and aestheticians are pushing excellence in their fields of practice – including at the Douglas J Institute where new professionals are being formed each year.
- Creative Arts Studios is a popular spot for individuals and groups to make art and they recently expanded into the storefront next door.
- A roadside motel was transformed into the super cool and retro-themed Hotel Royal Oak with an expanding series of programming in their vibrant outdoor plaza in former parking spaces, and several themed party rooms.
- Culinary arts are another strength with the recently opened OCC Culinary Institute on three floors in a new iconic building on the southern edge of the core of the downtown.
- 2,200 people live downtown and seek out the richness and diversity of offerings we have here 365 days a year.
- We’re tearing down a 50 year old parking garage where we used to have vintage and yard sale markets, and are seeking a Request for Interest in redeveloping this 1.44 acre parcel in the heart of downtown.
After going through that list in my head throughout the day, and surely leaving many more important things out, the “coolest” thing about Royal Oak is how everyone is welcome. We don’t exclude people or groups because they don’t fit in. This spirit of acceptance and welcoming difference in all its forms makes Royal Oak a truly special place. That’s what gets people coming back again and again. So on behalf of all the people and businesses that are continuously contributing to cool in Royal Oak – we accept this award on your behalf and celebrate you for your general awesomeness and contributions to this special communtiy and place.
Friday, September 25, 2026, 12:00pm – Maryland Design Center
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 8:00am