The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and friends recently celebrated the winners of the 2024 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards in Pittsburgh, bringing together regional leaders, longtime partners, and supporters to recognize success in environmental protection and restoration, outdoor recreation, and conservation-focused economic development.

The award winners included--

-- Lifetime Achievement: PEC President Emeritus Davitt Woodwell

Woodwell, who retired at the start of this year after 30 years with PEC, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. In that time, his work extended to every corner of the Commonwealth.

PEC operates on an ethic of pragmatic inclusion, collaboration, respect for others, and appreciation for the natural world and the life-affirming experience of time spent outdoors.

In PEC's more than fifty years, no one has exemplified these principles quite like Davitt Woodwell.

To recognize his accomplishments, PEC will construct a bench in his honor along the Great Allegheny Passage, the 150-mile multi-use trail that was a cornerstone of his career.

Click Here for a video of Davitt Woodwell.   Click Here for more on his career.

-- Excellence In Partnership: Altoona Water Authority

The Authority was recognized for its success in convening partners to restore native forest on a reclaimed mining site, creating both a source of clean drinking water and a destination for outdoor recreation.

A reforestation effort undertaken by Altoona Water Authority and Green Forests Work is working to restore a mining-impacted watershed in Cambria and Blair Counties.

With help from other partners including PEC and the Game Commission, the site is also becoming a destination for public recreational uses including hunting, hiking, and mountain biking.

Click Here for a video about the clean up of Kittanning Run.

-- Trailblazing Community: The Community Of Kane, McKean County

Kane, in the Pennsylvania Wilds, was recognized for its investment in outdoor recreation, community-building revitalization, and the arts.

Like many rural communities in Pennsylvania, the borough of Kane, in McKean County, has weathered its share of economic ups and downs.

But thanks to a determined and passionate group of citizens, and with support from government and nonprofit partners, Kane's star is rising.

People have come together to expand and maintain trails, cultivate sustainable businesses, and make this "Star in the Forest" an active and attractive place for residents and visitors alike.

Click Here for a video on the community of Kane.

In Case You Missed It In May

PEC’s In Case You Missed It In May also includes--

-- Memorial Day Bikeout Rides Again Was A Blast

-- Oakland Dam Removal On North Branch Susquehanna River Opens Recreation Opportunities

-- PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers Announced Sojourn Grants

-- New Grant Program Supports Drinking Water Protection In Chester, Delaware Counties

-- Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Mini Grant Awards Announced

-- PEC Podcast: Trails Day, Much To Celebrate

-- PEC Podcast: Riding Northeast PA Gravel Trails

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook.  Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts.  Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

(Photos: Davitt Woodwell; representatives of Altoona Water Authority; representatives of the community of Kane.)

Related Articles:

-- Pennsylvania Environmental Council President Davitt Woodwell To Retire  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council Awards $60,000 In Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Mini Grants For 11 Projects  [PaEN]

[Posted: June 6, 2024]

6/10/2024