Golden Triangle

GLDN+ Streets

Bringing beauty and sustainability to the neighborhood

This popular, annual landscaping design contest encourages buildings in the Golden Triangle neighborhood to create lush, vibrant tree box plantings for BID members and visitors to admire.

2024 Theme – Urban Oasis

Once again, we are collaborating with Smithsonian Gardens to expand its horticulture program into the central business district. This year’s theme, Urban Oasis, will focus on cultivating an environment of tranquility amidst the bustling urban landscape. We aim to transform the heart of the city into a sanctuary adorned with big, leafy plants and vibrant, blooming flowers, giving passersby the chance to reconnect with nature in the midst of their daily routines.

View the Kickoff Presentation to learn more.
Register to participate.

See Who Won Last Year

Scroll down for a glimpse of the 2023 theme “Happy Habitats” and its winners.

2023 Judge’s Choice Award Winners

  • 1120 Connecticut Avenue NW | Blake Real Estate
  • 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW | Blake Real Estate
  • 1875 K Street NW | Carr
  • 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW | Blake Real Estate
  • 1615 L Street NW | Carr

1120 Connecticut Avenue NW

1150 Connecticut Avenue NW

1875 K Street NW

1025 Connecticut Avenue NW

1615 L Street NW

About Golden Streets

The Golden Triangle BID hosts the Golden Streets competition each year for neighborhood property owners to showcase flowers and plants in beautifully-designed tree box displays. As the summer heat rolls in, these special boxes enhance the neighborhood with color and creativity.

In addition to bringing more beauty to the neighborhood, these displays highlight and encourage urban sustainability. Over the years, they have supported native and pollinator-friendly flowers and plants to create urban habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies in the city. Tree boxes delight passersby with vibrant blooms, lush greenery, and whimsical decorations.

The competition encourages the buildings to bring out their best landscaping ideas. Each year, the best landscaping designs are recognized through the Golden Streets awards program. Winning creations are selected by a panel of expert judges, which have included:

  • Ahmed Hassan, Certified Landscaper and former HGTV Host
  • Chuck Bell, NBC4 Meteorologist
  • Amelia Draper, NBC4 Meteorologist
  • Howard Bernstein, WUSA 9 Meteorologist
  • Alex Dencker, Horticulturalist, Smithsonian Institution
  • Bradley Evans, Horticulturalist, U.S. National Arboretum
  • Robin Nixon, Chief of Partnerships, U.S. National Park Service
  • Christopher Upton, Horticulturalist, U.S. National Arboretum
  • James Gagliardi, Supervisory Horticulturist, Smithsonian Institution
  • Bradford McKee, Editor, Landscape Architecture Magazine
  • Luis Marmol, Horticulturist, Dumbarton Oaks
  • Sarah Dickert, Lead Horticulturalist, Smithsonian Institution

Golden Triangle BID and Sustainability

Golden Streets is a part of our efforts to create a bigger conversation around the importance of sustainability, biophilic design, and urban ecologies. It connects directly to our broader environmental sustainability initiative, which also includes important projects like:

Check back soon for resources on this year’s theme.