Cities share spotlight for noteworthy environmental efforts

Tempe has emerged as a quadruple winner in competition recognizing the sustainability initiatives of public and private projects, honoring a broad spectrum of work from private homes to commercial buildings to public spaces.

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Chandler also was an award recipient.

Tempe received two prestigious Crescordia awards and two Awards of Merit at Valley Forward’s 30th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards.

Crescordia award winners included the Sandra Day O’Connor House/Green Line Restoration and Western Canal Multi-use Path Project.

The historic O’Connor House, originally constructed in Paradise Valley as a family home for the former Supreme Court justice, represents a milestone in sustainability.

A preservation-by-relocation effort was undertaken and the entire house was deconstructed and transported piece-by-piece to Tempe. It was meticulously reconstructed in Papago Park, with a focus on historic preservation.

The Western Canal project connects Tempe with the cities of Phoenix, Mesa and Chandler, completing a critical link in the Valley’s pedestrian freeway.

It links four parks, three schools, numerous recreational facilities and employment centers and dozens of retail outlets.

It also converts miles of nearly unusable unpaved maintenance roads with high transmission power lines into a shaded, accessible linear park and public amenity.

The path was designed in response to public interest in providing new opportunities for bicyclists, joggers and pedestrians to enjoy amenities and recreational opportunities. Tempe officials say it demonstrates the city’s commitment to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities and its effort to be a model community for walking and biking.

Chandler earned a Crescordia award in the Park Site Development and Landscape category for its Paseo Vista Recreational Area project, a collaborative effort between the city’s Community Services and Municipal Utilities departments.

The departments partnered to transform Chandler’s closed landfill near McQueen and Queen Creek roads into a premier community special-use park with unique recreational offerings such as disc golf, archery and a dog park.

“Paseo Vista is a living testament to the effective reuse of materials that otherwise would have ended up in other landfills,” said Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn.

“The project utilized salvaged culvert pipes, concrete chunks from sidewalks, recycled asphalt millings, old railroad ties and more than 1,500 discarded tires.”

The 64-acre site provides easy access to the popular multipurpose Paseo Trail system. An awards panel said it demonstrated planning foresight and commitment to make efficient use of a site that would have remained fenced from the public, and which had been deemed unattractive and unusable.

The total cost of the project was $12.8 million, funded through a voter-approved bond in 2004.

“This project shows (Chandler’s) environmental stewardship by taking a landfill and turning it into a multi-use facility,” said Councilmember Rick Heumann.

“I feel Chandler is leading the way in many areas environmentally and this award just substantiates that we are doing a great job,” added Councilmember Jack Sellers.

Valley Forward recognized 61 projects from over 150 submitted by Valley businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations.

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