Honoring conservation

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and National Association of Counties (NACo) recently recognized six counties for the inaugural County Leadership in Conservation Awards. The winners were highlighted for their leadership, innovation and successful implementation of park and recreation investment by county leaders nationwide.

One of the winners, Platte County in Missouri, received the award because of its master park plan process, which involved citizens in deciding on what recreational projects it would pursue, and in developing a plan to preserve hundreds of acres of trail and open space that spans more than 300 miles. Each project is funded through a voter-approved one-half cent sales tax dedicated to parks and recreation. "Counties across America are taking more responsibility for maintaining the character of their communities," said Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land. "Platte County's leadership in reacting thoughtfully to an engaged citizenry represents the best of local leaders facing the challenges of growth, the need for parks and open space, and the opportunity to maintain good quality of life." The other winning counties are: Burlington County, New Jersey Dakota County, Minnesota Gallatin County, Montana Pima County, Arizona Pinellas County, Florida

Each county will receive a travel scholarship to promote countywide land conservation programs as solutions to regional growth issues.