The City of Roanoke received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, marking it as one of the country's most livable cities.

The winners were chosen from a pool of more than 200 applicants by an independent panel of judges, and recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities.

In Roanoke's case, it was the City's Parks and Art program that earned it the award. The program brings various performance and visual arts to neighborhood parks throughout the City.

Four other cities in Roanoke's size category received the award.