Monday, November 11, 2024

Virginia State Parks wins award for environmentally friendly practices

View of the winding Taskinas Creek at York River State Park. Photo courtesy Virginia State Parks
View of the winding Taskinas Creek at York River State Park. (Courtesy photo/Virginia State Parks)

State parks are often thought of as a place of escape, but Virginia State Parks have taken it a step further.

The park system has won the Virginia Green Travel Star Award for Most Innovative Green Projects in 2017.

Virginia State Parks submitted several qualifying-projects. They include converting vehicles to natural gas, purchasing electric vehicles, and replacing gasoline powered tools with electric equivalents among several other proposals.

“Many of the green initiatives Virginia State Parks are using are developed and implemented by the Alternate Energy and Cabin Management working group, which includes park staff at all levels,” State Parks Director Craig Seaver said in a news release. “Being recognized for our hard work and commitment to being mission compliant is a true honor.”

The park system received the award on Friday in Virginia Beach.

The environmentally-conscious program will recognize 35 Virginia tourism businesses.

“We are incredibly proud to recognize Virginia State Parks as a Virginia Green Travel Star,” Virginia Green Travel Alliance Executive Director Tom Griffin said in the release. “Virginia Green Travel partners are truly leading our program’s efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of the industry and to increase green tourism business in Virginia.”

The Virginia Green program is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Tourism Corp., the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, and the Virginia Green Travel Alliance.

The partnership promotes environmentally friendly practices in the state’s tourism industry.

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