Community Appearance

Community Roots Day 2010

The Community Appearance Commission is a 15-member advisory board appointed by the Winston-Salem City Council and Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. The Commission was formed in 1989 and includes citizens with a variety of backgrounds. A majority of the members have special experience or education in a design-related field. The mission of the Commission is to enhance the visual quality and aesthetic character of Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem for residents and visitors.

The Commission’s primary functions are handled through three sub-committees: Technical Advisory and Project Review (TAPR); Education and Awards; and Trees and Woodlands. The TAPR Committee reviews projects which receive public funding and provides comments and recommendations to the project managers and designers of each project.

The Education and Awards Committee sponsors public educational seminars, a Letter of Recognition program and a biennial Awards Ceremony. The biennial Awards Ceremony honors individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the appearance of the City of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

The Trees and Woodlands Committee advises different entities on landscaping and tree management issues. This subcommittee, in partnership with Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful and the Winston-Salem Vegetation Management Department, sponsors the popular Roots Day program. Roots Day is annual community event in which volunteers plant trees within a designated neighborhood. Since the first Roots Day in 1993, volunteers have planted over 5,000 trees throughout the City of Winston-Salem.