TOCA and Project EverGreen present environmental award to Detroit Mayor

The City of Detroit’s Bradley Dick (right) accepts the Environmental Communicator Award on behalf of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan from Project EverGreen’s Cindy Code.

The Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) and Project EverGreen presented the 2018 TOCA Environmental Communicator of the Year Award to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

“Project EverGreen is pleased to recognize Mayor Duggan with this well-deserved honor,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Well-maintained parks are transformational. They serve as community hubs, creating positive neighborhood relationships. Additionally, Pingree Park and the 40 other renovated Detroit parks combined absorb almost enough carbon to offset an average car traveling 53,438 miles.”

The award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding communications efforts regarding green space and environmental issues, was presented during the TOCA Annual Conference in Cincinnati. Duggan is the 20th recipient of this award.

Mayor of Detroit since 2014, Duggan announced an investment of $11.7 million to improve 40 neighborhood parks across the city of Detroit in 2016-17. Project EverGreen worked with the city, local businesses and community groups to renovate Pingree Park starting last November.

The city’s parks had been in decline due to budget constraints, but as downtown Detroit experienced a renaissance, Duggan wanted to make sure the neighborhoods didn’t get left behind, according to Project EverGreen. The 40 parks were chosen based on key criteria, such as high concentrations of children and senior citizens nearby.

Photo: Project EverGreen