A call for nominations for a new national award, recognizing leadership in countywide land conservation programs, was made jointly today by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Since 1995, more than 100 counties have passed bonds and revenues to support investments in open space, parks, watersheds, recreational lands, and wildlife preserves. Counties are playing a leading role in local and regional land conservation planning. This new TPL-NACo award, the County Leadership in Conservation award, recognizes leadership, innovation, and successful implementation of park and recreational investment by county leaders.

Three or more awards will be presented each year to officials (elected or appointed) representing governments of NACo-member counties based on small, medium, and large county populations. The awards will be presented in partnership with the National Association of County Planners and the National Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials.

Nominations will be judged based on a broad range of criteria including leadership, innovation, benefits to underserved populations, and benefits to quality of life and environmental quality.

The deadline for submissions is November 19, 2004 and the awards will be presented at an annual conservation awards program, as part of the NACo National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2005.

Additional information and nomination forms can be accessed on the Web at either www.tpl.org/awards or http://www.naco.org/conservationawards or by calling 617-367-6200.

Related Link: http://www.naco.org/conservationawards

For more information contact:

Ernest Cook
The Trust for Public Land
33 Union Street 4th Floor
Boston
MA 02108
US

Phone: 617-367-6200
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.tpl.org