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Alley Garden Awards

July 9 – July 26, 2026 (Extended due to heat)

2026 Alley Garden Awards Sponsored by Hamm Realty! 

What are Alley Garden Awards?

Deter crime by gardening. Planting a few perennials here and potting some plants there can make a huge difference in improving the aesthetics and safety of your home. 

In 1992, the Macalester-Groveland Community Council agreed that community beautification deters crime. In response, we started the Alley Garden Awards. Prepare your alleyside property in time for the Alley Garden Awards and help prevent garage burglaries and other crimes facilitated by unkempt property. 

How do I qualify for an award?
  • You must have an easily recognizable house number that’s visible from the alley
  • You garden must be along the alley/on the alley side of the fencing
  • Your garden must be well maintained and have minimal weeds
  • The entire alley side of your property must be litter free and neat
  • Your garden (which can also be contained with pots) must be used for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables, herbs, or fruit
Guide to AGA Criteria
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St. Paul Magazine Feature of the AGAs
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2025 Award recipients

985 gardens were awarded in 2025!

2024 Award Recipients

1061 gardens were awarded in 2024!

Volunteer to be an Alley Garden Award Judge!

• Construct flags: We will be getting together at the Edgcumbe Rec Center to assemble flags – all you need to bring is yourself. Each year volunteers construct around 1000 flags!

• Help judge gardens: Judging will run from Thursday, July 10th through Wednesday, July 23rd (Extended due to weather). There will be a short 30-minute mandatory training session via Zoom for first time judges (however all are encouraged to attend). All judges must be available to spend 3-4 hours walking through alleys during the judging period.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a judge or constructing flags, please email mgcc@macgrove.org!

Alley Garden Unauthorized Series

A few of our wonderful volunteers created an unauthorized video series to capture what the Alley Garden Awards mean to our neighborhood. Please enjoy a few of the videos below! You can find the full series here.