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Mesa recognized for youth climate fund and Reed Park greening project
Summary
Mesa won two Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards for the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund and the Reed Park Greening Project. City officials said the youth fund received $150,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the park project planted 94 trees and added stormwater-capture basins as a heat-mitigation model.
Mesa City Council on April 6 acknowledged two Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards for city projects that officials say advance youth climate education and urban heat mitigation. Lauren Whiticker, deputy director for environmental and sustainability, told the council Mesa received the Chris Cordy Award for the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund and an award of distinction for the Reed Park Greening Project.
Whiticker said the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund is grant-funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with the city receiving $150,000 to distribute microgrants of $1,000 to $5,000 that allow youth to work with community partners such as the Child Crisis Center and Mesa Public Schools on local sustainability projects. "The Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund is grant-funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Mesa has received $150,000 from Bloomberg," Whiticker said.
She described the Reed Park Greening Project, held last October, as a community-driven effort that brought more than 100 volunteers to plant 94 desert-adapted trees, 35 native shrubs and build three stormwater-capture basins to support green stormwater infrastructure. Whiticker said the project was notable for partnerships with the Nature Conservancy (which submitted the award), Unlimited Potential, Trees Matter, Watershed Management Group, the Arizona Sustainability Alliance and support from the Garden Club of America. "The project was also supported by the Garden Club of America," she said.
City leaders framed the two projects as complementary: the youth grant fosters local climate education and workforce skills, while the park project provides a replicable model for increasing shade and reducing heat across Mesa neighborhoods. Scott Bouchey, director for energy and sustainability, joined Whiticker at the briefing and deferred to her summary of the awards.
Council members and staff posed for photos with the award recipients after the presentation. No council action was needed; the items were presented for recognition and to highlight ongoing environmental programs.
