News Releases

6-09-08: Akron Youth Reveal Why Green Spaces Matter to Them:

Art of Green Spaces Competition Winners Announced Akron “EverGreen Zone” Contractor Award Open to Nominations

Akron, Ohio — Why do green spaces matter? Patricia Boh, Nicholas Hobbs and Evie Nyerges answered that question through poetry, painting and mixed media artwork and won their age categories in Project EverGreen’s first annual Art of Green Spaces Competition. Project EverGreen partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve and the Western Reserve Academy to bring attention to how important green spaces – specifically lawns, landscapes, gardens parks and sports fields - are to Akron’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Project EverGreen, a national non-profit public service organization, presented each winner with $100 and an award commemorating his or her achievement. The winning entries are on public display at The Seiberling Nature Realm for the entire month of June. Project EverGreen designated Akron as its first Evergreen Zone city in 2008 and has developed a number of projects to inform consumers about the benefits of managed green spaces.

“The students participating in the Art of Green Spaces Competition used the power of art to tell adults and fellow Akron youth why it is imperative to create and care for green spaces at home, at work and at play,” explains Den Gardner, Project EverGreen’s executive director. “Patricia, Nicholas and Evie’s work demonstrates how vital healthy green spaces are to their daily lives.”

4-22-08: Recognizing Excellence in Creating and Improving Green Spaces

Akron, Ohio– Project EverGreen, a national non-profit, public service organization, is on a mission. Its goal is to raise the level of awareness in America that achieving ecological sustainability in cities begins with sound, responsible maintenance of public and private green spaces. The specific goal of Project EverGreen’s Akron “EverGreen Zone” Contractor Award sponsored by Mulch Mule is to recognize Akron-area service contracting organizations, companies and other professionals for projects that create or improve well-managed green spaces. The deadline for nominations is August 30, 2008. Two $1,500 awards will be given in the fall of 2008.

Den Gardner, executive director of Project Evergreen, explains the organization’s rationale. “Unfortunately, people are unaware of the immense impact that responsibly managed, well-maintained green spaces have on our environment, our local economies, and our lifestyle,” he says.

He notes that healthy, responsibly managed trees, turf and plants play critical roles in regulating local air quality and climate, countering the warming effects of paved surfaces and reducing energy consumption by providing shade and absorbing heat through evapotranspiration.

Gardner further explains, “Green spaces contribute to ecological health by breaking up the built and paved landscape with lush, inviting, landscapes that filter storm water and snowmelt, recharge groundwater supplies, and protect lakes and streams from polluted, chronic runoff.”

To qualify for the Akron “EverGreen Zone” Contractor Award sponsored by Mulch Mule, a nominee must be a service contracting organization, company or other professional. The nominee must have completed a project that creates or improves private or public green spaces in the Akron area. Two awards will be given: $1,500 for residential and $1,500 for commercial property/sports fields/public parks, which may include cash, merchandise, and/or credit at Akron merchants. Winning submissions will be featured in the Project EverGreen 2009 Because Green Matters Calendar.

Nominations may be made by downloading an application blank at www.projectevergreen.com or calling the Project EverGreen office at 1-877-758-4835. Contest submissions must include a written description and photographs, video or other visual documentation. Deadline for nominations is August 30, 2008.

4-18-08: Advocacy Through Art

Akron, Ohio– What does your neighborhood park, backyard or favorite tree mean to you? Project EverGreen, a national non-profit, public service organization, invites the creative youth of Akron to answer that question by entering the Art of Green Spaces Competition. In conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve and the Western Reserve Academy, the goal of the competition is to inspire young people from kindergarten through high school to think about why beautiful green spaces matter to them.

Specifically, these young artists are asked to express through art, music, writing, dance or drama how important green spaces, such as well managed lawns and landscapes, gardens, parks, and sports fields are to the environment, the economy, and the overall quality of life. “Unfortunately, most people take these vital green spaces for granted,” says Den Gardner, executive director or Project EverGreen.

“Our goal with the Art of Green Spaces Competition is to bridge this knowledge gap by providing a venue in which young artists can creatively express their feelings as to why green spaces are so important to people,” Gardner says.

He specifically notes that the goal of the competition is to encourage talented young artists to use the power of art to tell adults and fellow Akron youth why it is imperative to create and care for green spaces at home, work, and play. Each art project must help answer the question, “Why are green spaces – lawns, landscapes, gardens, parks, and sports fields – important to you?”

Prizes will be awarded in as many as four categories: Visual Arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, etc.), Music (vocal and instrumental audiotapes or videotapes), Writing (poetry, stories, articles, etc.), and Dance and Drama (videotapes). Prizes for each category will be allocated to elementary, middle, and high school ages, with $100/blue ribbon for first, $75/red ribbon for second, and $50/yellow ribbon for third places. All artists will receive a green participation ribbon.

To qualify, project entries along with completed and appropriately signed entry forms should be delivered to the Art of Green Spaces Competition, c/o Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve or the Western Reserve Academy. Only students of these organizations are eligible to compete and may enter as individuals or in teams.

Deadline for entry is May 1, 2008. All eligible entries will be judged by a panel of Akron artists, teachers, and representatives of the green industry based on esthetic excellence as well as scientific or technical interest. Winners will be notified by May 10, 2008, and winning entries will be on public display in May and June 2008.