Glenview's Green Heroes: The 2024 Sustainability Stars

Glenview's seventh annual Environment and Natural Resources Commission's Environmental Sustainability Awards event just wrapped up. This event is always a big deal. In 2024, three categories were recognized. The programme is designed to acknowledge and reward the efforts of local organisations, including businesses, schools, places of worship, and community groups, for their efforts in sustainability. The award winners were selected based on their contributions between January 1, 2024, and December 1, 2024. First, let's talk about the Glenview Public Library. The library did something amazing - it made its rooftop terrace into a haven for native plants and pollinators. Native plants were chosen because they attract birds, butterflies, and bees. The project didn't stop there. They added bird baths, bee hotels, and even more plants to support the entire life cycle of pollinators. It's like a tiny prairie topping the library! There are also some comfortable new chairs for people to relax in.The library was not the only one doing amazing things. The Glenview Park District and Greener Glenview worked together for the second time to host the SportSwap event. This event was all about promoting sustainability and reducing waste. Residents could swap used sports equipment for vouchers, which could be used to buy new reusable sports gear at a discount. Any leftover items were donated to Goodwill, and all the proceeds were donated to the Glenview Park Foundation. The event raised 1, 034 dollars for the Glenview Park Foundation's Youth Leisureship Program. The awards ceremony took place at the Glenview Village Board meeting. Village President Mike Jenny expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the community. It is clear that people in Glenview are putting in a lot of effort to make things more sustainable The Glenview Public Library, the Glenview Park District, and Greener Glenview were recognized for their innovative ideas. Is it enough? Are they doing enough? It is worth thinking about. It is clear that more needs to be done in the coming years.