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Award given by Bridging the Gap

Blue Valley Rec received environmental excellence award

November 1, 2010

Members of BVRC's Green Team pose for a group photo.

Blue Valley Recreation was recognized for its accomplishments in the area of sustainability by Bridging the Gap (BTG). Deemed as a leader in taking steps to protect and enhance the environment, Blue Valley Rec was one of four businesses in the Metro area to be honored.

BTG celebrated and recognized the accomplishments of outstanding businesses, individuals, volunteers and schools in the Kansas City metro area at a reception held at Hallmark Corporate Headquaters on October 28 . BTG presenters noted that Blue Valley Rec was recognized because the agency “believes that taking steps to improve their environmental impact is part of being a responsible organization.”

Environmental Excellence Awards were given in four categories: individuals, volunteers, schools and businesses. Blue Valley Rec won in the business category as the government award recipient. The Environmental Excellence Award for Business recipient has shown that taking care of the environment is part of being a responsible company or organization. This award recipient exhibits exemplary behavior in taking steps to improve their environmental impacts, while also balancing the day-to-day responsibilities of running a successful business. Other winners in the business category included:

St. Elizabeth School & Church (not-for-profit award)
Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, Inc. (small buisness award)
Burns & McDonnell (large business award)

Blue Valley Rec has hosted special events which include a Farmer’s Market every Saturday from May to October and a public Arbor Day event in May. Classes offered to further educate patrons include Learning to Live Green, Earth Awareness, Herb Gardening and Healthy Living.
Additional initiatives and activities which led to the award include:
· actively working to engage employees and patrons in green programming and facility operations, successfully building recycling into the culture of staff, facilities and patrons;
· recycling in co-mingling and cardboard bins, resulting in reduction of the number of trash pickups by 50% and diversion of 7.5+ tons of material from the local landfill;
· making the work environment more sustainable as maintenance and custodial staff audit recycling containers for contamination;
· decreasing paper consumption, utilizing more e-tools, reducing energy consumption, buying “green” products;
· vigilance in timely turning off lights on 25 sport fields; and
· auditing equipment for energy consumption.

Blue Valley Recreation Commission chair Lou Wade was present to accept the award along with commissioners Mike Seitz and Don Stebbins. Staff members Jim Hook and Catherine Niedt, from the Green Team, were also in attendance. Green team members not able to attend include: Sherry Grandon, Darla Letts, Jeramey Mabie, Jon Girten, Derrick Wilde, Don Grimes, Nick McCorkendale, and Connie Skeens.