The City of Lake Charles has advanced to the state level of the Cleanest City Contest.

The city was notified Thursday by the contest judges from the Louisiana Garden Club Federation that it has passed the district level.

“This announcement is great news for the City of Lake Charles and the entire community,” Mayor Randy Roach said in a news release. “I want to thank everyone who helped make this district win possible, including our many volunteers, business owners, city employees, Team Green of Southwest Louisiana, the Lake Charles Garden Club, the Diggers and Weeders Garden Club of Lake Charles, DOTD Landscape Maintenance, Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, and everyone throughout the city who helped prepare for the competition. We are now looking forward to competing at the state level.”

Lake Charles, the defending champion, will compete at the state level against cities of comparable population size.

The Cleanest City Contest is a litter prevention program sponsored by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.

(Brad Puckett / American Press)