Duncanville awarded for environmental initiatives

by Danielle Parker of of Duncanville TODAY

April 22 marks the 38th annual Earth Day and Arbor Day is April 25. As the world becomes more eco-conscious, many, including the city of Duncanville, are recognizing these holidays.

In the midst of a green society, the city is rising up above Texas communities in its pursuit to not only make Duncanville beautiful, but also create an environmentally-friendly community.

Duncanville was recently named among the nine communities to win the 2008 Governor's Community Achievement Awards, a $1 million grant program funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.

"The GCAA is sponsored by Keep Texas Beautiful and seeks to honor communities that have exhibited the best grassroots environmental programs in the state and is among one of the most prestigious environmental awards presented to communities in Texas," Public Information Administrator Tonya Lewis said.

A panel of judges selected Duncanville due to how it rated against a set of criteria, including community leadership, public awareness and litter prevention. Based on the population size, the city was honored with a monetary award to further landscaping and highway beautification development.

"Not only does this award bring the prestige of garnering state-wide recognition of the Keep Duncanville Beautiful initiatives and programs but a $95,000 cash award," Lewis said. "The award will be used on landscaping projects along either Highway 67 or Interstate 20 to make the city's gateways more aesthetically pleasing."

For the past six years, KDB has worked toward winning this celebrated award. After much perseverance, the city is seeing the product of its labor.

"We have applied for this award since 2003, and each year the KDB board has stepped it up," Assistant City Manager Jeanine Fralicks said. "Due to the hard work and dedication of the board, we have achieved this great accomplishment."

Along with GCAA, Duncanville has also been named a Tree City for the sixth consecutive year and several members of the community were acknowledged for their contributions to keep the city beautiful.

"In addition to the KDB Board's recognition as a GCAA recipient, Dorothy Wolverton, or as she is affectionately known in the community, 'Mother Nature,' won first place in the Individual Leadership Awards Division,' Lewis said. "Mayor David Green also received second place in the O.P. Schnabel Senior Citizen Award for his work as 'Recycle Man.' Both Mother Nature and Recycle Man present programs to youth and seniors in the community weekly, a fact that Mother Nature believes allowed them to win such notable awards."

KTB will formally award the city of Duncanville during the 41st annual Keep Texas Beautiful Conference in Irving, June 24-28. Learn more at ktb.org.