Green means good for local parks

In a park system rated “excellent” by the Trust for Public Land, green energy initiatives are showing Cincinnati residents that their city parks are far more than playgrounds and hiking trails.  

Encouraged by Mayor Mark Mallory’s “Green Cincinnati Initiative,” the Cincinnati Parks has been using green technology to save money and conserve fossil fuel since 2006. Since the beginning of this year, the parks have saved $30,000 through the use of alternative energy generation. Multiple solar energy sites, one wind turbine site and two geothermal sites are reducing the parks’ reliance on tax money for energy consumption. “At the same time, we’re producing excess energy that we can actually sell back to Duke Energy and that they can sell on the grid,” says Deborah Allison, business services manager for the Parks Board. “We’re not only a consumer, we’re a supplier.”

The parks have adopted strong energy conservation initiatives, too. “Big Belly” trash containers use solar energy to compact garbage, which saves on the cost of trash pickup. Hybrid and electric cars, bio-fuel mowing equipment, ethanol trucks and a solar powered cart have joined the park’s fleet of vehicles. The Park Board also sells recycled timber from fallen trees to the Cincinnati Public Schools at cost. This reuse of downed trees as wood for school flooring provides a significant savings for CPS over fair market value for new lumber.  

Chosen by Green Energy Ohio to kick-off the 2011 Green Energy Ohio Tour last weekend, the Cincinnati Park Board gave tours of its many green initiative sites. From the Krohn Conservatory to Mt. Airy, LaBoiteaux Woods, Eden Park and Berry Friendship Park, the Park Board and Green Energy Ohio want the public to see the measures the city and local businesses are taking to create a more sustainable future for Cincinnati.  

Do Good:

• Visit: Any of the five regional and 70 neighborhood Cincinnati parks that are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

• Adopt: Some of the new green initiatives that the Cincinnati Parks Board is using, like rain barrels and pourous pavement, can be adapted for your own home or business.

• Volunteer: Opportunities are plentiful at Cincinnati Parks. Call 513-321-6070.

By Becky Johnson