LAWRENCE — The manicured, near-acre yard at the Heinze home at 525 Howard St. is a 72-year family tradition.
Karl and Anna Heinze originally bought the property in 1936. Today, their descendants keep the yard in such pristine condition that the Heinze family was awarded the city's Yard of the Month award.
The new award recognizes residents who make the extra effort to keep Lawrence beautiful and hopefully inspire others to dispose of trash, pick up there property, and make the city a nicer place to live, Mayor Michael Sullivan said.
Today, Bob Heinze lives in the house his grandparents bought 72 years ago. A walk through his yard reveals beautiful dahlias and rose bushes, closely trimmed green grass and a vegetable garden that bears everything from broccoli, tomatoes and potatoes to giant Bavarian radishes and more. Fruit trees that have survived decades, including hurricanes, still flourish.
In the back corner of the yard, a compost pile of grass clippings, weeds and brush is recycled and reused as loam in the yard's gardens. This is good for the environment but also reduces the amount of trash Heinze said he puts at the curb.
But keeping the yard looking great is not just the job of one person. Bob said he gets help from others in the family, including his son Rob and brother Paul, of Windham, N.H. He also has six grandchildren who live close by and are a great joy for him, he said.
Bob said that at a very young age, he and his brothers and sisters were taught to take care of their home and to never litter.
He has wonderful memories at his home, including his grandparents making wine with grapes grown in the yard and Fourth of July parties in the yard.
His wife, Catherine, who recently died, loved sitting on the porch and reading, he said.
He was thrilled to receive the monthly yard award.
"You have to appreciate things like that because you don't often come by such a great honor," he said.
To win this prestigious Yard of the Month award, Lawrence homeowners must meet the following criteria, according to Frank O'Connor of the city's Community Development Department:
Property must be free of trash/litter out to the street.
The yard must be kept up in an outstanding way (lawn mowed in spring and summer; leaves raked in autumn; and snow and ice removed in winter).
The overall appearance of the lawn must be neat and tidy.
Creativity also is a plus by judges.
The success of the Yard of the Month award has led to the creation of the Storefront of the Month award, which will recognize business owners who make the extra effort to keep their business clean and inviting to customers, O'Connor said.
Nominations for yard or store of the month should be sent to FOConnor@CityofLawrence.com. They can also be dropped off at the Community Development Department at 147 Haverhill St.
