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Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards

Release Date: 5/23/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Phillippa Cannon (312) 353-6218
Jon Voelz, Chicago Wilderness (708) 485-0263 ext.560

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA071

CHICAGO (May 23, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and the Chicago Wilderness consortium are now accepting nominations for the 2005 Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards program. Corporations (including not-for-profits), developers, public sector entities, and public-private partnerships can be nominated for an award. The nomination period will close July 27, 2005.

The awards recognize outstanding efforts to use native plants in landscapes within the Chicago Wilderness region. Also to be recognized are communities and developers that plan and construct residential and commercial developments in ways that protect watersheds and the environment.

Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment. Once established, native plants save time and money by eliminating or reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment.

Conservation-style developments can reduce storm water run-off while at the same time providing natural areas, open space, and other amenities for the people who will live and work in these areas.

Chicago Wilderness is a regional nature reserve that includes more than 220,000 acres of protected natural lands. It stretches from southeastern Wisconsin through northeastern Illinois and into northwestern Indiana.

The Web address for more information and to nominate a site is www.epa.gov/greenacres/awards.html.