Sister Cities mosaic recognized with worldwide award

Posted: Sep 24th, 2021

Sister Cities of Greenfield has earned global recognition for an art installation commemorating the 30th anniversary of the program.

The organization, which unveiled a mosaic along the Pennsy Trail in Greenfield to mark three decades of its partnership with Kakuda City, Japan, was awarded the 2021 Annual Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture for cities with a population under 25,000. The award is presented by Sister Cities International.

Sister Cities of Greenfield celebrated its 30th anniversary despite the global pandemic, by adding the mosaic, featuring the organization’s logo recreated in ceramic tile, as a symbol of Greenfield’s connection with Kakuda City, even during difficult times.

“It is important that communities such as Greenfield continue to remind their residents of the significance in maintaining such relationships around the world. During this pandemic, this organization has been a shining beacon of citizen diplomacy, through both its exchange program and the physical symbols of the connection between these two beautiful cities,” Sister Cities International President and CEO Leroy Allala said in a release announcing the award.

The mosaic, which is displayed on the south side of Pennsy Trail, just west of South State Street, is the newest installation in Sister Cities of Greenfield’s Japanese-style garden along the trail. In addition to a Japanese-inspired pagoda that serves as a shelter house along the trail, Sister Cities of Greenfield has helped beautify two other sections of the trail with trees planted with donations from the community.