St. Charles' Environmental Efforts on Display for the 2016 America in Bloom Program

Submission by the city of St. Charles

The American in Bloom national awards program is more than a beauty contest for floral displays. The program also recognizes communities for their environmental efforts, historical preservation and community involvement. And St. Charles is no delicate flower when it comes to these weightier categories.

Take environmental programs and awareness, for example. The Community Profile document the St. Charles in Bloom Committee submitted for the program includes initiatives from the City, Park District, businesses and residents. Some environmental highlights:

City & Park District

· The Park District worked with School District 303 to collect more than 30 large boxes of gently used school supplies in an effort called Feed the Green Machine. Rather than ending up in a landfill, these items were instead distributed for reuse in summer camps, afterschool programs and daycare facilities.

· In another Park District-School District collaboration, more than 6,000 students visited local parks during the 2015-2016 school year for field trips in wetland ecology, forest ecology and other life-science subjects.

· The Park District has placed recycling containers in all District buildings and community parks and also has initiated a district-wide polystyrene recycling program.

· The City has placed recycling bins around town that sort plastic, aluminum cans and glass, and trash.

· The LEED-certified Hickory Knolls Discovery Center hosts nature- and environment- themed events throughout the year. One key initiative is the Kane County Certified Naturalists, a year-long program that trains adults to become knowledgeable stewards and volunteers in the community.

· Nutrient-dense biosolids produced from the City’s two wastewater plants are used by farms rather than being sent to a landfill.

· St. Charles boasts a 90% residential participation rate in curb side recycling.

Businesses

· Clarke mosquito control company installed solar panels at their headquarters building in St. Charles that delivered power back to the grid. Solar panels also power electric vehicle charging stations.

· Aquascape Designs water feature design and installation company building is LEED Certified. It also has the largest sloping green roof in North America, planted with native prairie grasses and flowers and a complete irrigation system that recycles rain water.

Residents

· Since 2004, 2,177 volunteers have provided more than 160,000 hours of clean up and improvement efforts around town.

Two program judges will tour St. Charles July 10-12. A virtual tour of the judging route will be available on the City’s website so everyone can follow along and see what the judges will be looking at.

“We are excited for the judges to come to St. Charles so we can show off our wonderful community,” said 5th Ward Alderman and America in Bloom Committee Member Maureen Lewis. “I’m amazed at the time and dedication of numerous individuals and organizations that come together to make this happen. We enjoy great community spirit here in St. Charles.”

Volunteers Wanted

Because this is a community wide program, the America in Bloom Committee is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s entry. For more information or to volunteer, contact Steve Amatangelo at Steve.amatangelo@sartorius-intec.com or 630.338.7085; Diane Cullen atdianecullen@sbcglobal.net, or Maureen Lewis at mlewis@stcharlesil.gov or 630.584.4622.

Check the City website often for the latest updates at www.stcharlesil.gov/about/america-in-bloom. More about the America in Bloom national program at www.americainbloom.org.