Momentum is high in the City of Fishers, and not just because of the long-awaited IKEA grand opening. Aim’s designation of Fishers as a 2017 Green Community of the Year is the third consecutive designation for the city. City staff were awarded during the annual luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Aim Ideas Summit in Evansville.
“It’s important that Fishers as a community is growing in smart, sustainable ways,” stated Mayor Scott Fadness. “This designation, especially with it being our third consecutive year, is a true testament to our team’s constant focus on making intentional decisions today that lead to a well-designed community far into the future.”
To qualify for the designation, cities must complete an application detailing sustainable efforts taking place city-wide. Fishers’ application detailed various efforts, including:
- Two annual recycling days, hosted by Fishers Department of Public Works (DPW), inviting the community to dispose of unwanted items.
- Efforts by Fishers Economic Development Department to revitalize and repurpose unused or underutilized commercial retail spaces.
- A rain barrel program overseen by Fishers Parks & Recreation at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, offering free rain barrels to residents which helps to repurpose rainwater.
- Expansion of Keep Fishers Beautiful, a collaboration between Fishers Parks & Recreation and Fishers DPW, Stormwater Division. Projects this year focused on cleaning waterways and roadways throughout Fishers.
- Lastly, a change in turf management policy in which Fishers DPW switched fertilizer to use a product that sprays microorganisms into the turf that secrete positive nutrients into the soil, thus fertilizing the grass.
For more information on sustainability efforts within the City of Fishers, please visit fishers.in.us.