Leawood, Kan., Public Officials Honored for Leadership in Sustainable Development

SKOKIE, Ill., Oct. 10 PCA-Leadership-Awards


Portland Cement Association Announces 2008 Sustainable Leadership Award Winners



SKOKIE, Ill., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayor Peggy J. Dunn, City of Leawood, Kansas, and Joe C. Johnson, director of public works for the city were presented with a 2008 Portland Cement Association (PCA) Sustainable Leadership Award at the City of Leawood City Council meeting on October 6. These awards honor innovative public officials who utilize cement or cement-based products to achieve sustainable benefits. 



As part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of cement and concrete to sustainable building solutions, PCA has identified local leaders in eight cities across the nation who have enacted policies or completed projects that promote sustainable development through the use of concrete and other cement-based products.



Mayor Dunn and Johnson were acknowledged for using pervious concrete when designing and constructing the parking lot in I-Lan Park, a city park that replicates a traditional Taiwanese garden. The park was built in recognition of Leawood's sister city of I-Lan, Taiwan. Pervious concrete technology is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a best practice for stormwater management and is enjoying increasing popularity as a sustainable solution for parking lots, alley ways and other paved areas.



The Awards were presented by Kent Sunderland, vice chairman of Ash Grove Cement Company, representing PCA, and Christy Martin, director from the Concrete Promotional Group of Greater Kansas City.



Sunderland commented, "When the City needed to replace the parking lot, I-Lan Park's proximity to a creek meant that keeping rainwater from eroding the banks of the creek and from contributing to flooding was of utmost concern." Sunderland went on to add, "Pervious concrete allows rainwater to naturally filter through it, preventing deposits of oil, grease and other contaminants from entering storm drains and going directly into the water supply." 



"The City of Leawood is well known for its beautiful parks. We wanted to be not only proponents of sustainability, but also practitioners," said Mayor Dunn upon receiving the award. "Now residents of Leawood can enjoy the park amenities while knowing that they are also helping their own environment stay clean and green." 



Leawood city officials also realized that "green" sustainable construction practices not only benefit the city, but can also be cost effective. The parking lot at I-Lan Park was originally designed to be six inches of asphalt on dirt. Based on similar asphalt lots, the City would have to provide major maintenance to the lot every four to six years.

"This parking lot is designed to last for at least 20 years, with little maintenance. We may need to vacuum it if it accumulates leaves over time. That by far trumps maintenance costs for any other materials we considered," said Johnson. 



Two other cities in the Greater Kansas City metro area have taken notice of Leawood's use of pervious concrete. Olathe, Kan., recently bid a city parking lot for a recreation center with pervious concrete aspects as a part of the project. On the other side of the state line, Kansas City, Mo., is working on a specification for city sidewalks to have a pervious concrete option.



To learn more about the Award and sustainable development benefits made possible by concrete, visit www.cement.org/newsroom



About PCA

The Portland Cement Association, based in Skokie, Ill., represents cement companies in the United States and Canada.  It conducts market development engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.  Additional information is available at PCA's Web site, www.cement.org.



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SOURCE  Portland Cement Association