The City of Ypsilanti Recognized for Environmental Leadership
Ypsilanti, Michigan —The City of Ypsilanti was recognized for its environmental leadership by the statewide Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program. As part of the annual Michigan Green Communities (MGC) Challenge, local governments are awarded bronze, silver, gold or platinum seals of achievement. These achievements reflect community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice and more.
Ypsilanti achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including the addition of and improvement to pedestrian crossings in the Washtenaw/Hamilton/Huron/ Michigan work area, & improvement to the Boarder to Boarder Trail as part of both the Huron River Drive reconstruction and the Forest Bridge rehabilitation work.
“In Ypsilanti sustainability is about caring for our community’s environmental, economic, and social well-being. We are a community that works together to support one another and care for our shared environment. Our city staff make environmental care and community support a priority too. Our Gold award is just one reflection of that culture of care and shared community priorities,” Beth Gibbons, Ypsilanti Sustainability Chairperson.
Some of the ways that Ypsilanti’s sustainability leadership has been on display this past year includes: Hosting hundreds of people at the Earth Day 4 event in April 2023, continuing to build the community resources and resilience of the Parkridge Community Center, hosting sustained conversations on establishing a resilience hub network across the city, the ground breaking of over 308 affordable housing units in the city, additional 2.6 miles of bike lanes, improving pedestrian safety downtown walkability, and winning of over $1 million in grant dollars to continue the careful restoration of the Huron river through Ypsilanti, including the removal of Peninsular dam. Read the entire press release here: https://lnkd.in/g-RnC3zu
Michigan Green Communities is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; the Michigan Department of Transportation; the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan Townships Association.
