Rockville, MD = The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that the Town of North Beach was one of 13 Maryland municipalities honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference earlier this month in Rockville. A detailed summary of North Beach’s sustainability Actions can be found in their Certification Report.
This is North Beach’s first Sustainable Maryland Certified Award.
Highlights of North Beach’s accomplishments:
The North Beach Sunrise Garden, opened in 2015, is a 30,000-square-foot parcel of reclaimed waterfront area owned by the Town of North Beach. The park features pedestrian walkways; public seating; landscaping with native plants; water features consisting of rain gardens, shallow ponds, and waterfalls; a public gazebo; rotating public art displays; and more.
Innovative municipal initiatives include solar panels at the Public Works building and a green roof on Town Hall.
Every year the town of North Beach hosts several events that showcases local cuisine, promote local businesses, and supports local nutritional assistance programs. In 2017, these events included “Drink Maryland”, “The End Hunger Dragon Boat Festival”, and an annual “Polar Bear Plunge” co-sponsored by Calvert County Meals on Wheels.
In 2016, North Beach secured grant funding from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation to complete a 60-foot living shoreline project inside the Walton Beach Nature Preserve.
“The growing number of municipalities that share a vision for state-wide sustainability is a testament to Maryland’s commitment to a resilient future,” said Dan Nees, director of the Environmental Finance Center. “Now more than ever, it is critical for local leaders and advocates to take charge of moving their communities towards becoming healthier and more sustainable. It is exciting to see our Sustainable Maryland Certified program continue to empower elected officials and citizens with every new community we welcome.”
“As a Town located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, we have always been acutely aware of our responsibilities toward the environment,” said Mayor Mark Frazer. “For the past year, however, we have worked diligently to identify and focus our efforts toward earning this important recognition. North Beach is both pleased and proud to join the ranks of Maryland’s officially designated Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities.”
The photo shows (from right) Veronica Owens, Development Specialist; Allan Creamer, Environmental Committee; Council Member Jane Hagen; and Councilmember Mike Benton with the Sustainable Maryland Certified award at the Maryland Municipal League conference last Friday.
For detailed information about North Beach’s sustainability initiatives, please contact Stacy Wilkerson, Town Clerk, northbeach@northbeachmd.org, (301) 855-6681