On April 27, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced Aspinwall Riverfront Park in Allegheny County and Clem Macrone Park in Delaware County as recipients of DCNR’s annual Green Park Award. Co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, the awards recognize statewide excellence demonstrating green and sustainable practices in parks that supply passive enjoyment or active, structured recreation.
“It’s exciting to see that this year’s awards honor both a commitment to sustainability by incorporating green and sustainable practices, and recognition of the type of recreation and public enjoyment they provide,” Dunn said. “Aspinwall Riverfront Park, our passive winner offering unstructured play, is committed to water quality, connecting people to nature, and environmental stewardship.”
The secretary noted the 10-acre park along the Allegheny River was transformed from a brownfield site and marina, and saved for recreation and open space in the face of commercial development. This is the second time the Green Park Award, created in 2010, has been awarded to an Allegheny County facility. In 2012, Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair received the honor.
“Our active park winner, Clem Macrone Park, has demonstrated commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly materials selection and construction, environmental stewardship and education, and natural landscaping,” Dunn noted.
The 9.4-acre park is in a densely populated neighborhood in the Bryn Mawr section of Radnor Township. Purchased in 1958, the park bears the name of the Clem Macrone, an active, dedicated community member.
Both winning parks will receive commemorative trees and engraved markers to later be installed.
Green Park judges include DCNR staff from its bureaus of Recreation and Conservation and State Parks, the secretary’s office and PRPS.
For more information on the award, visit DCNR’s Green Park Award webpage. More information on greening your community parks is available on DCNR’s Green and Sustainable Community Parks webpage.
