Climate Resilient Landscape Showcase - Existing Projects Official Rules

OFFICIAL RULES

These are the rules for the Climate Resilient Landscapes Showcase Existing Projects Competition and Showcase Catalogue (the "Showcase"). If you have a question regarding this program, please contact the City of Boulder Climate Initiatives Department at 303-441-3262.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

A. EXISTING PROJECTS COMPETITION: Community members submit completed landscape projects to be evaluated by an expert jury panel. Winners receive gift card awards and are featured in tours and an award show.

B. SHOWCASE: All qualifying entries are featured in an online and physical showcase catalogue and the first 200 eligible entries will receive a $50 gift card award.

I. HOW TO ENTER:

A. ENTRY PERIOD: The entry period (the "Entry Period") will be announced on the City of Boulder website at bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase. Entries must be submitted during the announced Entry Period to be eligible.

B. ENTRY METHOD: Entries must be submitted online at bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase. No other method of entry will be accepted.

C. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Complete application form, including required attachments.

D. COMPETITION VS. SHOWCASE-ONLY ENTRY:

Entrants may choose to enter either:

1. The full competition (eligible for $500 competition awards and $50 showcase catalogue gift card, subject to all competition requirements including public tours and award show participation); or
2. Showcase only (eligible for $50 showcase catalogue gift card only, not judged for competition awards)
3. Entrants opting for showcase-only entry will not be considered for competition awards, will not be required to participate in public tours, and will not be required to present at the award show. This selection must be indicated at the time of submission and cannot be changed after the entry period closes.

E. INCOMPLETE ENTRIES: Incomplete entries, or failure to follow the instructions, procedures or these Official Rules shall render the entry invalid. All entries become the property of the City of Boulder.

F. NUMBER OF ENTRIES: There is no limit to the number of entries per person or organization. However, each project may only be submitted once.

II. ELIGIBILITY:

A. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY: The Competition is open to individuals, organizations, businesses, community groups, designers, property owners, renters, and other community members. Entrants do not need to be City of Boulder residents.

B. PROJECT LOCATION: All submitted projects must be located within the City of Boulder, Colorado.

C. PROPERTY AUTHORIZATION: Entrants must have authorization from the property owner to submit the project. A signed authorization form is required for projects being submitted by someone other than the property owner.

D. PROFESSIONAL SUBMISSIONS: Professional landscapers, designers, and contractors may submit projects they have designed or implemented, provided they have a signed authorization form from the property owner.

E. PROPERTY TYPES: All property types are eligible, including but not limited to residential (single-family and multi-family), commercial, institutional, and community properties.

F. PROJECT COMPLETION: There is no restriction on when the project was completed.

G. EMPLOYEE AND COMMITTEE MEMBER ELIGIBILITY:

1. Employees of the City of Boulder, jury panelists, steering committee members and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the competition or win competition awards. However, they MAY submit entries for showcase-only inclusion. These showcase-only entries are not eligible to receive the $50 showcase catalogue gift card.

H. AGE REQUIREMENT: Entrants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entry.

I. CODE COMPLIANCE: Area included in project boundaries must comply with City of Boulder codes.

III. PRIZES AND AWARDS:

A. EXISTING PROJECTS COMPETITION AWARDS:

1. Twelve (12) gift card awards valued at $500 each will be awarded as follows:

a. Nine (9) awards: Top-scoring projects in each budget bracket and project size category (see table below). If a category does not receive enough qualifying submissions, the jury may choose to award alternate prizes.

b. Three (3) additional awards: Projects that are outstanding examples in one specific area but do not win an overall category award

2. Prize funds may be split between up to five (5) recipients as determined by the winners. If a project was designed or installed by someone other than the property owner, it is expected that the prize will be equally shared among the contributors.

B. SHOWCASE CATALOGUE AWARDS:

1. To be featured in the online showcase, entries must feature landscapes from within the City of Boulder and include well-lit photos at the minimum quality dimensions. The landscapes must be composed of a majority native, adapted, or food-producing plants, and not feature junipers if located in the Wildland-Urban-Interface (WUI). The managers of the landscape also must not use synthetic pesticides (including herbicides).
2. The first 200 eligible entries will receive a $50 gift card.
3. City of Boulder employees, steering committee members, jury members, and their immediate family members who submit showcase-only entries are not eligible for the $50 gift card but may be featured in the catalogue.
4. Gift cards will be distributed on an ongoing basis during and following the application period.

C. GENERAL PRIZE TERMS:

1. All prizes are subject to change; prize values are approximate and prizes have no cash redemption value except as specifically stated.
2. No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent for prizes allowed except at Sponsor's sole discretion.
3. Winners are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes on prizes; upon request winners may receive an IRS Form 1099 for the retail value of the prize.
4. All other expenses on the receipt and use of prizes not specifically mentioned herein are the sole responsibility of the winner.
5. Any prize or portion of a prize not accepted by a winner will be forfeited and may be awarded to another entrant at the Sponsor's option.
6. The City of Boulder makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the appearance, condition or performance of any prize.
7. No monetary prizes will be awarded to the City of Boulder.

IV. JUDGING AND SELECTION:

A. EXISTING PROJECTS COMPETITION:

1. Projects will be evaluated by panelists with expertise in aspects of landscape-based climate resilience, including but not limited to fire and flooding mitigation, heat and drought resilience, and community and ecosystem resilience.
2. Judging will be based on a set of aspirational criteria, including but not limited to climate resilience features, sustainability, design quality, functionality, and community benefit.
3. Top two (2) finalists per category will be selected for jury and public tours to be held in August 2026.
4. Final judging will be completed following the tours.
5. Winners will be announced and honored at an award show to be held on September 12, 2026.
6. All judging decisions are final and binding.

V. WINNER OBLIGATIONS:

A. EXISTING PROJECTS COMPETITION WINNERS:

1. Competition finalists must make their properties available for jury and public tours in August 2026.
2. Competition winners must participate in the award show to be held on September 12.
3. Competition winners must be available for media interviews and promotional activities as reasonably requested by the City of Boulder.
4. Competition finalists must execute a Property Access Agreement (see Section 10 below) prior to jury and public tours.

B. SHOWCASE-ONLY PARTICIPANTS:

1. Showcase-only entries are not required to participate in tours or the award show.
2. Showcase-only participants may be requested to participate in optional media interviews or promotional activities but are not required to do so.

VI. WINNER NOTIFICATION:

1. Potential winners will be notified by email at the email address provided on the entry form and/or by telephone at the phone number provided.
2. Potential winners may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release ("Affidavit/Release") within ten (10) days of first notification to claim their award.
3. If any of the required documents are not returned within the allotted time period, or if any email is returned as undeliverable or telephone call not returned, the award may be forfeited and an alternate recipient may be selected at the City of Boulder's sole discretion.
4. Any award not accepted by a winner will be forfeited.
5. It is the responsibility of the winner to claim the award within the specified timeframe.
6. All unclaimed awards after ten (10) days will automatically be forfeited and may be awarded to another entrant.

VII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PUBLICITY:

A. MEDIA USAGE RIGHTS:

1. By submitting an entry, entrants grant to the City of Boulder a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, display, and distribute all submitted materials (including photographs, descriptions, designs, and other content) for promotional, educational, marketing, and other purposes related to the Showcase and the City's climate resilience initiatives.
2. The City of Boulder retains the right to use submitted materials in the online and physical showcase catalogue, on websites, in social media, in printed materials, in presentations, and in other media now known or hereinafter developed.
3. Entrants retain copyright ownership of their submitted materials but grant the above license to the City of Boulder.
4. Entrants represent and warrant that they have the right to grant these licenses and that submitted materials do not infringe on any third-party rights.

B. PUBLICITY RELEASE:

1. Except where prohibited by law, winners grant to the City of Boulder the right to print, publish, broadcast and use in any media now known or hereinafter known (including without limitation use online) the winner's name, voice, statement, picture or other likeness, without additional compensation, for public relations, advertising and promotional purposes as may be determined by the City of Boulder.
2. Winners acknowledge that they will be featured in marketing materials, tours, the award show, and other promotional activities.

VIII. CONDUCT:

1. By entering this Competition, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the City of Boulder shall be final and binding in all respects.
2. The Official Rules will be posted on the City of Boulder website at bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase.
3. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification.
4. The City of Boulder reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual or organization found to be tampering with or disrupting the entry process or the operation of the Competition; or to be acting in any manner deemed by the City of Boulder to be in violation of the Official Rules.
5. The City of Boulder reserves the right to verify eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules at any time.

IX. PROPERTY ACCESS AGREEMENT:

A. All finalists in the Existing Projects Competition whose properties will be included in tours must execute a Property Access Agreement prior to the tours. The Property Access Agreement shall include:

1. Permission for public access on specified tour dates and times
2. Waiver releasing the City of Boulder from liability for property damage during tours
3. Acknowledgment that property owners maintain their own liability insurance for the property
4. Agreement to maintain the property in a safe condition for public access
5. Indemnification of the City of Boulder for claims arising from public access to the property
6. The City of Boulder will obtain appropriate event insurance for the public tours.
7. Finalists who do not execute the Property Access Agreement may forfeit their award.

X. GENERAL TERMS:

1. This Competition is subject to the laws of Colorado and the United States.
2. Prizes will be awarded and/or delivered only to addresses within the United States.
3. Program procedures, requirements and award levels are subject to change or cancellation without notice and are subject to available program funds.
4. Misrepresentation in any entry will result in forfeiture of the award and potential disqualification from future City of Boulder programs.

XI. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:

The City of Boulder and all other Competition partners, prize providers, expert advisors, jury panelists, and persons or entities related to the Competition assume no responsibility or liability for:

1. any incorrect or inaccurate entry information;
2. any unauthorized access to, or theft, destruction or alteration of entries at any point in the operation of this Competition;
3. any technical malfunction, failure, error, omission, defect, or delay in operation or communications line failure, regardless of cause, with regard to any equipment, systems, or networks utilized in any aspect of the operation of the Competition;
4. inaccessibility or unavailability of the Internet or the website or any combination thereof;
5. any injury or damage to participants or to any other person's computer which may be related to or resulting from any attempt to participate in the Competition or download of any materials related to the Competition;
6. the performance, quality, safety, design, durability, or any other aspect of any landscaping work, materials, or designs submitted as part of the Competition;
7. any injuries, damages, or losses occurring on private property during public tours or at any time related to Competition activities.

By participating, entrants and participants, on behalf of themselves and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns hereby knowingly and voluntarily release, discharge, waive and relinquish, and agree that they will not assert or maintain against the City of Boulder and those involved in the development, production (including prize suppliers, contractors, service providers, expert advisors, jury panelists), implementation and distribution of this Competition, and any of their respective officers, directors, employees, appointed and elected officials, representatives, attorneys, or agents (collectively, "City of Boulder and Affiliates"), any claim, action, suit or demand of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown now or in the future, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, arising out of or in connection with their participation in this Competition or any Competition-related activity, or their acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any award in any way (including any tax liabilities).

Entrants and participants further agree that City of Boulder and Affiliates are not responsible or liable for, and that entrants and participants will indemnify, defend, release, and hold City of Boulder and Affiliates harmless from and against, any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, injuries, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees) of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown now or in the future, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, arising out of or in connection with their participation in this Competition or any Competition-related activity, or their acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any award in any way (including tax liabilities), or arising out of public access to private property for tours or other Competition activities.

Entrants and participants hereby acknowledge that they may hereafter discover facts different from or in addition to those which they now know or believe to be true and agree that this release will remain effective notwithstanding.

If by reason of any error, more awards are claimed than the number set forth in these Official Rules, all persons making purportedly valid claims for an award will be included in a random drawing to award the advertised awards. No more than the advertised number of awards will be awarded.

If for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned for reasons which may include without limitation, infection by computer virus, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, failure to appropriate funds, or any other causes which may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Competition, then the City of Boulder reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, or modify the Competition in whole or in part.

XII. RELEASES:

All entrants, as a condition of entry into the Competition, agree to release the City of Boulder, the Climate Initiatives Department and their respective directors, officers, employees, appointed and elected officials, representatives, attorneys, agents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, suppliers, expert advisors, jury panelists, and promotional partners, from and against any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, death or losses to persons or property which may be sustained in connection with submitting an entry, or otherwise participating in any aspect of the Competition, the receipt, ownership or use of any award, or while preparing for, participating in or traveling to or from any entry or award-related activity (including public tours), or for any typographical or other error in these Official Rules or the announcement or offering of any award.

XIII. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS:

By submitting an entry, entrants represent and warrant that:

1. All information provided is accurate and complete;
2. They have obtained all necessary permissions and authorizations;
3. Submitted materials do not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights;
4. All work was performed in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and permit requirements; and
5. They have the right to grant the licenses specified in Section 8 above.

XIV. PRIVACY:

The City of Boulder values your privacy and will not knowingly release, transfer, sell or trade the personal contact information required to enter this Competition to any third party without your permission (unless required to by law or to preserve community interests, property, rights or lives). The City of Boulder reserves the right to use this information to communicate with you about Climate Initiatives Department related activities, events, programs and opportunities. You may unsubscribe from email lists at any time.

XV. WINNERS' LIST/OFFICIAL RULES:

For the names of all award winners, visit bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase These Official Rules will be available at bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase through September 12, 2026.

XVI. RULE CHANGES:

Additions, deletions and modifications to these rules may be made at the discretion of the City of Boulder and may be enacted at any time. Updated rules will be posted at bouldercolorado.gov/climate-resilient-landscape-showcase.

XVII. ENDORSEMENT:

The City of Boulder, its appointed and elected officials, employees, expert advisors, jury panelists, and agents do not endorse any particular landscape design, product, material, contractor, or claim in promoting this program.

XVIII. STEERING COMMITTEE:

The Competition will be guided by a Steering Committee that will inform the Competition structure, criteria, equitable outreach, marketing, and jury selection. The Steering Committee's recommendations are advisory in nature, and all final decisions rest with the City of Boulder.

XIX. QUESTIONS:

Questions regarding the Competition or these Official Rules should be directed to:

City of Boulder Climate Initiatives Department

PO Box 791
Boulder, CO 80306
303-441-3262

XX. SPONSOR:

City of Boulder, Colorado, Climate Initiatives Department.

XXI. ADDITIONAL RULES:

BY SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY, YOU ARE CERTIFYING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE RULES, AND THAT YOU MEET ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLIMATE RESILIENT LANDSCAPES SHOWCASE EXISTING PROJECTS COMPETITION AND SHOWCASE CATALOGUE.

XXII. LAST UPDATED AND EFFECTIVE DATE: 05/08/2026

END OF OFFICIAL RULES