Conservation Leadership Awards announced

Two local connections were recognized by The Trust for Public Land (TTPL) at its 7th annual Conservation Leadership Awards Feb. 4. The awards recognize outstanding support for the conservation of Minnesota’s special places, from city parks to wilderness areas.

Local award winners were the Frogtown Farm Board of Directors and 4th Ward St. Paul Councilmember Russ Stark.

“These awards recognize leaders who do the hard work of keeping Minnesota special,” said Susan Schmidt, TTPL’s Minnesota state director. “Conservation leaders sometimes don’t always get the recognition they deserve, and that’s why we created these annual awards.”

The Frogtown Farm Board of Directors was recognized for creating and implementing the vision for a new city park with a 5.5 acre urban farm demonstration project as one component in the heart of the Frogtown neighborhood in Saint Paul. The City of Saint Paul, Frogtown Farm and TTPL will be hosting a grand opening event for the park in the fall of 2015, and farm activity is projected to begin in spring 2016. Soyini Guyton, Frogtown Farm Board Chair, received the award on behalf of Frogtown Farm, a community-based organization dedicated to social equity, justice and interconnectedness.

Russ Stark, a member of the St. Paul City Council representing Ward 4, was recognized for his work in maximizing the Green Line Light Rail Transit benefit to the region. As a city councilmember, and as a past nonprofit leader, Stark has worked tirelessly to promote better transportation and land use options for neighborhoods bordering University Ave. Stark was a key participant in TTPL-led collaborative “Greening the Green Line”. http://www.tpl.org/ourwork/parks-for-people/green-line-parks-and-commons.

Other award winners were: Bill Becker, outgoing Executive Director of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC); Phyllis Kahn, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing Minneapolis; Craig Koester, Academic Dean at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul and a Lutheran pastor; and Carrie Rudd, a member of the Minnesota Senate representing Aitkin and Crow Wing counties.

“These individuals, and those who support them, are ensuring that Minnesotans continue to enjoy beautiful places to gather, play, work, hunt, fish and enjoy nature,” said Schmidt. “Minnesota is so fortunate to have such amazing conservation leaders.”