The city of Phoenix won seven Crescordia Awards and two Awards of Merit at the 2005 Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Awards. The Sept. 9 awards ceremony was the 25^th annual event organized by Valley Forward to recognize outstanding contributions to the environment and quality of life in the Valley.

The Crescordia (a Greek term meaning “to grow in harmony”) was awarded to the following city programs and projects:

Baseline Road Streetscape (Office of Arts and Culture)

Integrated into three miles of Baseline Road in the shadow of South Mountain, the streetscape project preserves memories of the former flower farms and orchards once unique to this part of the Valley. The project includes transit amenities, arbor-shaped bus shelters covered with flowering vine, sidewalks inlaid with textured patterns, drought-tolerant plants and solar-powered lighting.

Exterior Rehab Grant Program for Historic Residences

(Historic Preservation Office)

Since 1990, the program has funded rehabilitation, repair and restoration of the exterior of 307 homes within 29 residential historic districts in the city of Phoenix, spending more than $2.6 million to preserve architecturally unique, pedestrian-friendly urban living environments. The program has spurred substantial reinvestment in Phoenix’s inner-city neighborhoods, contributing significantly to the livability and revitalization of the urban core.

Sky Harbor Center Phoenix Fire Station No. 16 (Fire Department)

The station is a green building-sustainable project that enhances and supports the aviation community and provides an emergency response facility that instills a sense of pride in the public and users. The deep building setbacks, covered entry and patio and low water use indigenous landscaping that enhances the airport’s aesthetics.

Desert Broom Library (Phoenix Public Library)

The expansive roof of the Desert Broom Library, 29710 N. Cave Creek Road, creates a shaded microclimate, providing daylight, shelter and a nurturing environment for intellectual growth. The three-acre site is located within a larger 45-acre parcel that is being developed as a regional park by the city. Stone-filled gabion walls anchor the base of the building and provide a natural contrast to the steel structure.

Alley Dust Proofing Program (Street Transportation Department)

Through this program, the city partnered with other agencies to reduce levels of fine particulate dust, a serious pollutant in the Valley. The pilot program covered a 50-square-mile industrial area from 7^th to 51^st avenues along the Salt River, where dust levels often exceed national air quality standards. The goal was to determine the durability and cost for different alley dust-proofing materials. The most effective solution proved to be fractured aggregate and asphalt alley surface treatment, a process and material that is expected to be used in all alleys in the city within the next 10 to 15 years.

Drought Conservation Program (Water Services Department)

The city of Phoenix has a long history of water conservation. Many innovative programs were implemented in 2002 as a result of the long drought. The city’s mandatory water-savings efforts led to an almost 12 percent reduction in water use over two years, in addition to a five percent voluntary reduction by Phoenix customers. Most of that reduction is still being experienced today. The Stage One Water Alert of the city’s Drought Management Plan was the first of its kind in the Valley.

South Mountain Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy (Neighborhood Services Department)

This program created significant, sustainable changes in one of Phoenix’s oldest neighborhoods through a partnership of the community, local government, private developers and non-profit organizations. Their successful revitalization strategies have resulted in a 750-home development encompassing 103 acres created by a developer selected by residents who made significant contributions to the design; 130 new infill homes built by three local developers; a comprehensive Four Corners Strategy for 24^th Street and Broadway Road; commercial redevelopment with two area-owned businesses; a partnership creating a multi-use trail along 24^th Street, connecting its two most vital environmental resources - South Mountain Park and the Rio Salado Restoration Project.

In addition to the Crescordia Awards, Awards of Merit went to the Personnel Department’s Driver Training Academy and a Water Services sewer improvement project that used “trenchless” technologies to minimize the impact to the surrounding area during construction. For more information about the Valley Forward awards, visit valleyforward.com.