City of Shawnee | Sustainable Initiatives

Sustainable Initiatives

City Departments

The City of Shawnee is committed to environmental sensitivity and the pursuit of sustainability. Below are some of the major ongoing projects undertaken by the City in this area.

Guiding Documents

Policy Statements/Administrative Codes

Department Stories

Parks and Recreation

The City has 30 miles of trails maintained by the Park and Recreation Department helping Shawnee be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

Bike Recreational Trail Master Plan

The Parks and Recreation Department works hard to receive the Tree City USA distinction. 2013 is the City’s 16th Year of recognition.

The Park's recycling program continues to be a success. Many of these recycling containers were made from reused paint striping cans from Public Works. Not only are many parks equipped with recycling containers, but Shawnee events have recycling containers available.

All urinals in Shawnee parks and pool bathhouses have been converted to waterless urinals and all park bathrooms have been upgraded to have energy efficient lighting. West Flanders Park was recently upgraded to have solar lighting.

Parks and Recreation received a National Recreational Trails Grant in 2010 to purchase an electric vehicle that is used for trail maintenance and at special events. The Civic Center, Shawnee Town 1929, and the Parks Maintenance Shop were three facilities that received funding for energy efficient upgrades from the City’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant from the Department of Energy.

Not only does Parks and Recreation implement sustainable practices in their operations, but they offer programs to residents to become more sustainable. Some of these programs include rain barrel classes and composting classes. Parks and Recreation also runs the City’s Farmers’ Market.

Public Works

In addition to adhering to the City-wide policies for sustainability, the Public Works Department recycles materials whenever possible.

The Public Works Department is part of

Operation Green Light

, a regional effort to synch traffic signals in corridors of the region. This helps traffic flow and reduces emissions of idling vehicles. Additionally, the traffic signals and pedestrian indicators standards for the City call for LED displays.

The Public Works Department strives to improve air quality. To do this the Department installed a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station that has allowed the Department to operate 3 CNG vehicles. Additionally, the Department is retrofitting some of the old diesel engine vehicles to improve air quality. Public Works suspends mowing activity when there are Red Ozone days and has decreased mowing the right-of-ways by 40% over the last three years.

To reduce pollution and protect water resources, Public Works ensures clean water run-off at development sites throughout our community through their Land Disturbance Permit procedures and has created a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for each of the City’s facilities. The street sweeping program reduces trace pollutants from reaching our streams.

The Codes Administrative Division enforces the 2012 IECC energy codes adopted by Council.

The Public Works Department has retrofitted lighting for City facilities as well as piloted LED and induction lighting street lights around the City. These projects are paid for through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant money.

Planning

Development Services

Police

Fire

City Manager’s Office

Finance

Events the City Participates In

Programs sponsored by the City