City Of Mesa Newsroom MesaNow Announces Awards 10 Days After Awards Event

 

Blogger's Notes: Readers can find the entire list of winners here Arizona Forward is an advocate for a balance between economic development and environmental quality, and convenes business, community and civic leaders in thoughtful public dialogue on critical sustainability issues. The Association is a blend of members including large and small businesses, government jurisdictions, the education and non-profit communities, as well as others that share a goal of promoting cooperation to improve the environment and quality of life in our region. They now boast 250+ member companies representing tens of thousands of employees working together to help shape our local communities and move Arizona forward. This prestigious program has grown significantly over the years and now encompasses eight broad categories, including:   Governor’s Award for Arizona's Future (NEWEST CATEGORY!)   Buildings and Structures   Healthy Communities (NEWEST CATEGORY!)   Site Development   Art in Public Places   Energy and Technology Innovation   Environmental Education/Communication SRP Award for Environmental Stewarship  Deemed a “building of the future,” Northern Arizona University’s International Pavilion earned the coveted President’s Award (Best of Show) in Arizona Forward’s 36th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards presented by SRP. Jurists praised the facility as among the greenest building of its kind in the world. Some 100 nominations were received in Arizona’s oldest and most prestigious awards competition, demonstrating not only the priority of green design, but a shared ethic to protect natural resources and build in harmony with the environment. This year’s most popular categories were sustainable communities, historic preservation and art in public places. Three southern Arizona projects earned first-place Crescordia awards, including Tucson Water’s Conservation and Education Program, University of Arizona’s Beyond the Mirage, and Tucson Water’s Advanced Oxidation Process Project. Northern Arizona yielded one Crescordia award for NAU’s International Pavilion, which then went on to take top honors of the evening. A total of 12 Crescordia awards were presented to projects in communities spanning Central Arizona. Crescordia is a Greek term that means, “To Grow in Harmony.” Finalist projects spanned four major counties in Arizona including, Coconino, Pima, Pinal and Maricopa. The following cities and towns were represented: Apache Junction, Avondale, Chandler, Coolidge, Flagstaff, Glendale, Goodyear, Grand Canyon, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Safford, Scottsdale, Sedona, Surprise, Tempe Tucson. Mesa honored for environmental excellence [see image of Dennis Kavanagh below] 09-20-2016 at 6:25:09 PM

Creative use of the natural landscape at a new City park, integrating art with transportation and revitalizing a key part of the City have led to top honors for the City of Mesa at an event known as the "Academy Awards" of the environmental community. Mesa's Desert Arroyo Park earned the coveted Crescordia Award for Site Development for Parks and Trails at the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards gala Sept. 10. Meanwhile, Valley Metro's Public Art Program  along the Central Mesa Light Rail Extension earned the Crescordia Award for Art in Public Places and Mesa's Fiesta District Revitalization received a Merit Award in the Governor's Award category. The Crescordia Award (Crescordia is a Greek term that means "To Grow in Harmony") is the top honor in its category and sets standards for the exceptional physical, technical and social development of our state. "Recognition by Arizona Forward is high praise for the vision and hard work by City staff and our partners to create projects that benefit our residents, protect the environment and improve the quality of life in Mesa," City Manager Chris Brady said. Desert Arroyo Park, 9320 E. McKellips Road, is home to a variety of Sonoran Desert flora and fauna. The 58-acre park was developed with input from students at adjacent Zaharis Elementary School and contains desert-centered nodes, walking and biking trails, Wi-Fi access and an outdoor classroom that encourages learning and exploration of insects, birds, mammals and reptiles. Each new light rail station created by Valley Metro in central Mesa provided an opportunity to follow the City of Mesa's vision to celebrate the neighborhoods with public art. For example, at the Main Street/Alma School station, the artist designed a series of metal screens whose patterns are both organic and scientific. At the Main Street/Center Street station, a 50-foot steel sculpture showcases the combination of urban icon, outdoor room and collective silhouette portrait of community. The Fiesta District revitalization along the Southern Avenue corridor. The overall objective was to develop a more balanced multi-modal/pedestrian-friendly environment, encourage private development for long-term economic sustainability, utilize green infrastructure development technologies and aesthetically enhance the District. Arizona Forward, in partnership with SRP, presented the Environmental Excellence Awards, Arizona's oldest and most prominent competition of its kind. It spotlights distinguished projects throughout the state of Arizona that demonstrate a high level of environmental commitment and contribute to the state's overall sustainability. For more information, visit www.arizonaforward.org/events/47. Public Information and Communications Contact: Steve Wright Tel. 480-644-2069steven.wright@mesaaz.gov