The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland honored five Prince George's County municipalities at a Sustainable Maryland Certified awards ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference. The conference was held in Annapolis on Friday, September 12.
Officials from Berwyn Heights, Cheverly, Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and University Park accepted their awards at the annual ceremony marking the achievements of Maryland communities striving to become more sustainable.
Joanne Throwe, Director of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland at College Park, congratulated the certified towns: “These newly certified Sustainable Maryland municipalities have demonstrated, each in their own unique ways, their commitment to strengthening the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainability in their towns and cities. I commend their elected officials, municipal staff, and of course the passionate volunteers of their Green Teams for their efforts to shine a guiding light on the path forward for all of Maryland’s communities to a brighter, more sustainable future.”
To achieve Sustainable Maryland Certified status, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety sustainability-related Actions worth a total of at least 150 points (including two mandatory actions and two of six priority actions), and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence that the Sustainable Maryland Certified requirements have been satisfied.
Read highlights of each municipality’s sustainability efforts here
“From protecting our stream and urban tree canopy to our solar-powered town hall, to stepping up to make our homes more energy efficient, we have shown that sustainability is a core principle in University Park,” said Sarah Moseley, University Park Green Team Co-Chair. “Now we are proud to be recognized for that work as a Sustainable Maryland Certified community. Our town has worked together for years, meaning ‘It’s Easy Being Green in University Park’.”
The complete list of municipalities to achieve Sustainable Maryland Certified status this year includes:
- Town of Bel Air (first municipality certified in Harford County)
- Town of Berwyn Heights (Prince George’s County)
- Town of Boonsboro (first municipality certified in Washington County)
- Town of Chesapeake Beach (first municipality certified in Calvert County)
- Town of Cheverly (Prince George’s County)
- City of Greenbelt (Prince George’s County)
- Town of Snow Hill (Worcester County)
- City of Takoma Park (Montgomery County)
- Town of Riverdale Park (Prince George’s County)
- Town of University Park (Prince George’s County)
According to Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager for Sustainable Maryland, “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.”