Natural Lands and the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials are now accepting nominations for the Growing Greener Communities Award, which honors conservation-minded accomplishments by townships in Montgomery County.

Nominations are due July 28.

The Natural Lands Growing Greener Communities Award was developed to recognize municipalities that have engaged in dynamic initiatives to save land, steward natural resources, and/or connect people to nature. The award will be presented at the fall MCATO conference this September.

Said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands, “All across Montgomery County, township are doing amazing work that will help connect their community members to the outdoors, and we want to recognize dedicated officials, staff, and volunteers who are championing that work.”

Last year, Upper Salford won the Growing Greener Community’s Award by a unanimous vote from the review committee. By creating a comprehensive Greenway Guidebook, Upper Salford Township is guiding the growth of the community in a way that protects their cultural and natural resources.

The Guidebook describes 67 parcels totaling 2,051 acres that are eligible for conservation subdivision. Preserving 60 percent of these properties will yield 1,231 acres of greenway land, putting 21 percent of the township into privately owned conservation.

“We are pleased to partner with Natural Lands on this award program, and hope that it serves to encourage and promote continued forward-thinking projects and planning within the County,” said Daniel Littley, past-president of MCATO.

Examples of qualifying projects include:

-- Dynamic utilization of open space, such as a community garden or multi-use trail;

-- Efforts to care for land and water, such as a stream cleanup, riparian buffer planting, meadow naturalization, or environmentally sensitive stormwater management; and

-- Progressive, conservation-minded planning, such as ordinances that preserve community green space or improve commercial corridors with shade trees and other greening elements.

For all the details, visit the Growing Greener Communities Award webpage or call Patrick Gardner at 610-353-5587 ext. 211.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural Lands website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their activities.

[Posted: June 21, 2017]

6/26/2017