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| From left: Dr. Margaret Banyan and Ann Pierce with BikeWalklee accepting the “Outstanding Public Interest Group of the Year” award from Florida chapter of the American Planning Association officials, President-Elect Brian Teeple and President Merle Bishop. |
At the annual state conference of the American Planning
Association Florida Chapter, held in Naples, FL, last week, BikeWalkLee
was awarded Outstanding Public Interest Group of the Year. This award
acknowledged BikeWalkLee efforts “to help create a culture of planning that
works to complete Lee County’s streets so that all users of our transportation
networks are considered on the front end of any project or improvement”.
Accepting the award on behalf of BikeWalkLee were Dr. Margaret Banyan and Ann
Pierce.
BikeWalkLee is honored to receive this award as recognition
of what the county has collectively achieved – through the Lee County Metropolitan
Planning Organization, the Board of County Commissioners and county
administration, and the five municipalities in Lee County -- working in
collaboration with BikeWalkLee's coalition of 40 supporter organizations.
BikeWalkLee has tried to play a catalyst role, but we would not be successful
without the support and cooperation of the many elected officials in Lee
County, their agencies and staffs. Lee County is making great strides in
implementing complete streets, shifting to more sustainable transportation,
providing more transportation choices, and enhancing the economic and social
fabric of our community.
In giving this award, Florida APA President Merle Bishop
stated: “BikeWalkLee’s active transportation focus contributes to the economic
health of the community, the physical health of its residents, the
environmental health of the region, and the quality of life for individuals and
families in Southwest Florida.” BikeWalkLee looks forward to a
continuation of this collaborative partnership on the long term path towards a
more livable, economically resilient, and sustainable Lee County.
Since its launch in 2009, BikeWalkLee's work has been
recognized at the local, state, and national levels. BikeWalkLee was a
finalist for the News-Press "People of the Year" 2012 award; its
efforts were reflected in the October 2011 awards by the Urban Land Institute
of Southwest Florida recognizing Lee County's complete streets efforts and the
MPO countywide bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Founding members of
BikeWalkLee have been recognized as Florida Bicycle Association's Citizen
Advocate of the Year in 2010; as finalists in both 2010 and 2011 of Lee
County's Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award; and as Florida Weekly's
best advocate of the year in 2011. In 2010, BikeWalkLee received Lee
County Injury Prevention Coalition's "Injury Prevention Organization of
the Year" award. BikeWalkLee's work has also received public
recognition by national organizations, such as the National Complete Streets
Coalition, the League of American Bicyclists, Transportation for America, and
the Alliance for Biking and Walking.
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A special thanks to the dozens of partners and supporter organizations that sent us notes of congratulations. Here's the one from AARP of Florida, a founding BWL supporter:
Fantastic news and well deserved. My congratulations and best
wishes to all of the members of Bike/Walk/Lee on this tremendous recognition
and honor. You guys are great and you just keeping hitting out of the park. We love what you are doing and what you are accomplishing.
Bill
Clark
Associate
State Director
Florida
AARP State Office
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