The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was one of four honorees to receive national recognition for outstanding achievement in greenways preservation at the Kodak American Greenways Awards this week at the National Geographic Society.

Sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company, National Geographic Society and The Conservation Fund, the awards program honors leading individuals, organizations and corporations for their vision and commitment to protecting the nation's network of open space, trails and greenways.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was recognized for its leadership and extensive conservation record, which have served Pennsylvania and the nation as models of environmental leadership and restoration efforts.

Through its Growing Greener and Pennsylvania Greenways initiatives, the commonwealth and its partners are developing an outstanding network of greenways, achieving sustainable growth, rebuilding local economies, creating livable communities and enhancing the quality of life for all.

"On behalf of the Kodak American Greenways program, I am particularly pleased to present DCNR with an award for outstanding achievement in greenway and open space preservation," said The Conservation Fund's president, Larry Selzer. "America's greenways, blueways and trails serve as lifelines connecting neighborhoods, parks and people. Thanks to the Department's leadership and the support of Eastman Kodak Company and National Geographic, we are building partnerships that will preserve a network of open space for future generations."

This network of greenways-spanning cities and suburbs, rural communities and small towns-will connect Pennsylvania's open space, natural landscape features and scenic, cultural, historic and recreation sites. DCNR's record of diverse partnerships with businesses, nonprofit groups and local and municipal government agencies marks it as a national leader in connecting core landscapes and other natural and heritage assets through a network of green- and blueways.

"Gov. Rendell has committed DCNR to an expanded mission of building and maintaining sustainable communities in our commonwealth, and we recognize the vital role that a connected system of greenways and green infrastructure woven into the design of our communities play in our mission," DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. "Solid partnerships with a variety of organizations including The Conservation Fund have supported our work on land conservation and stewardship activities."

Dr. David Kiser, Eastman Kodak Company's vice president of environment, health and safety, joined Selzer to present the awards at the ceremony.

"We are extremely pleased to be a part of the American Greenways Program," said Kiser. "Helping families experience natural beauty in their own backyards is one of the most important things we can do for our children and for generations to come."

Following stream corridors, abandoned rail lines, canals or other linear landscape features, greenways preserve wildlife habitat, enhance water quality and provide opportunities for close-to-home outdoor recreation and sustainable economic development.

In addition to announcing the awards for outstanding achievement, the group presented 45 community organizations with small grants of up to $2,500 to help develop new action-oriented greenway projects. Since 1992, the Kodak American Greenways Program, administered by The Conservation Fund, has supported nearly 600 groups across the nation.

"Greenways are America's parks for the 21st century," said Gilbert M. Grosvenor, chairman of the National Geographic Society. "With the help of companies like Kodak, a growing network is linking our city streets to parklands and other open spaces in ways that encourage us to get out of our cars and into the landscape. Publicly or privately owned, greenways represent a grand design for creating a new green infrastructure for America."

10/7/2006