Springfield Parks Director Patrick Sullivan receives lifetime achievement award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
SPRINGFIELD — City Parks and Buildings Director Patrick J. Sullivan did his best to share the credit with others as he was honored last week with a lifetime achievement environmental merit award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “I was just very honored and humbled when I got the call from the EPA that the mayor had nominated me for this award and they had chosen me,” Sullivan said, during an interview with The Republican at his office at Forest Park. “I always had an interest in the field of horticulture and the environment and as I progressed, I tried to make decisions that are basically going to be in the best interest of our environment and for our residents.” Sullivan said credit needs to go to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for supporting “Going Green” initiatives, and to municipal employees for the focus on environmental protection and energy efficiency related to city parks, open space and buildings. Beyond protecting parks, the city continues a major, multi-year effort to improve energy efficiency in city and school buildings, having resulted in a 30% decrease in energy use in city buildings since 2007, Sullivan said. Sullivan said he is perhaps most proud […]