5 Prince George's Communities Earn Sustainability Award

Berwyn Heights, Cheverly, Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and University Park were recently awarded Sustainable Maryland Certified status for demonstrating a unique commitment to community sustainability.

Representatives from the communities accepted their awards at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual fall conference on Sept. 12 in Annapolis.

The award is an initiative of The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland that aims to engage community members to find cost-effective and strategic practices to protect the area’s natural assets.

“These awards are a testament to the passion and dedication of volunteers, municipal staff and elected officials to lighten our collective imprint on the Earth, restore the natural world, and plan together to create a better tomorrow for our children and their children,” said Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager for Sustainable Maryland.

In order to receive the Sustainable Maryland certification, municipalities must form a Green Team made up of local residents, community leaders, and municipal officials and complete a variety of sustainability-related actions.

Some of these eligible actions include expanding local gardens, constructing a composting system, administering energy efficiency audits, launching forest preservation campaigns, and improving informational resources on topics related to sustainability.

Other municipalities honored this year are Bel Air, Boonsboro, Chesapeake Beach, Snow Hill, and Takoma Park.

For more information about Sustainable Maryland, visit their website here.

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