The City of Houston earns Scenic America’s Clear Vision award

The City of Houston will be presented with Scenic America’s Clear Vision award at a reception being held at WorldFest-Houston International Independent Film Festival on Friday, April 20th.  Houston Mayor Annise Parker will accept the inaugural award in conjunction with the Texas premiere of This Space Available, a ground-breaking documentary about the problems caused by visual pollution, which features Houston’s ban on new billboards.

“The Clear Vision award is being given to Houston in recognition of the city’s persistent enforcement of its no new billboard policy in its 30 year fight against visual pollution ,” said Ronald Lee Fleming, Scenic America Board Chair.  “It’s clear that maintaining and enforcing one simple policy will dramatically reduce visual pollution over time.”

The number of billboards on the streets of Houston has dropped from more than 10,000 in 1980 to fewer than 2000 today. “Houston is the best U.S. example of what a city can achieve with a strong policy that stands the test of time,” Fleming added.

The reception and presentation of the Clear Vision award to Mayor Parker will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the AMC Studio 30 Theater on Dunvale, and the premiere of the documentary This Space Available will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Where:  AMC Studio 30 Theater
2949 Dunvale (between Richmond and Westheimer) 

When:  Friday, April 20th
Reception and presentation of Scenic America’s Clear Vision award:  5:30 p.m.
Texas premiere of This Space Available:  7:00 p.m.

For information on WorldFest-Houston go to their website:  http://www.worldfest.org/