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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan Named the 2018 TOCA Environmental Communicator of the Year

By Cindy Code, Project EverGreen

 

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

The award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding communications efforts pertaining to green spaces and environmental issues, was presented during the TOCA Annual Conference in Cincinnati. He 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 18-acre 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. The 40 parks were chosen based on key criteria including those with the highest concentration of children and senior citizens close by.

Bradley Dick, director general of the City of Detroit services department , accepted the Award on behalf of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Accepting the award for the mayor, Bradley Dick, director general services department said, “Parks are the heart and soul of the city. The mayor’s progressive initiative to renovate 40 parks across the city helps to reduce blight and restore community pride.”

Promoting and communicating the substantial value of establishing a greener, cooler Earth through the creation, renovation and revitalization of managed recreational and athletic green spaces that result in healthier, happier people is
at the core of Project EverGreen’s mission.

“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, along with the 40 other renovated Detroit parks combined, absorb almost enough carbon to offset an average car traveling 53,438 miles.”

Previous Environmental Communicator Award recipients include:

  • 1999 – Mark Welterlen, former publisher Grounds Maintenance magazine
  • 2000 – Bill Love, W.R. Love Golf Architecture
  • 2001 – Tim Doppel, Atwood Lawn Care
  • 2002 – Doug Fender, former executive director, Turfgrass Producers International
  • 2003 – Allen James, former CEO, RISE
  • 2004 – Rod Dodson, Audubon International
  • 2005 – Jeff Gullickson, Spokane Country Club
  • 2006 – Kevin Trotta, grounds manager/IPM specialist, Cornwall, NY
  • 2007 – Helen Stone, Southwest Trees & Turf magazine
  • 2008 – Allied Golf Associations of Colorado
  • 2009 – Drs. Larry Stowell/Wendy Gelernter, PACE Turf
  • 2010 – Christopher Gray, formerly Marvel Golf Club
  • 2011 – Anthony Williams, formerly Marriott Golf and golf course consultant
  • 2012 – Dr. Frank Rossi, Cornell University
  • 2013 – Phil Fogarty, Weed Man and Crowley’s Vegetation Management
  • 2014 – Brandon Horvath, University of Tennessee
  • 2015 – Dr. Brian Horgan, University of Minnesota
  • 2016 – Dr. Dave Shetlar, The Ohio State University
  • 2017 – Dr. Frank Wong, Bayer Environmental Science