The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has announced that it has certified the cities of Bexley and Delaware as the most recent Sustainable2050 communities to achieve an elevated status for their actions to promote sustainability.
Sustainable2050 is a program that supports communities’ sustainability efforts through direct technical assistance, collaboration and recognition. Each member’s tier status – Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum – is determined by the number of eligible activities it carries out in five categories corresponding to MORPC’s Regional Sustainability Agenda. The categories are: energy consumption; natural resources; economic opportunity; sustainable neighborhoods; and collaboration.
“These communities are dedicated to improving the quality of life of their residents in sustainable ways, and that should be celebrated,” MORPC Planning & Sustainability Director Kerstin Carr said. “Through Sustainable2050, we are not only recognizing their commitment to sustainability, but ultimately assisting them, through access to resources, to do even more.
MORPC has facilitated the Sustainable2050 program since its inception, and now the agency has worked toward its own Platinum certification. “MORPC’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout our programming, and we are in a position to lead by example and influence sustainable practices across the region,” MORPC Sustainability Officer Brandi Whetstone said. “We are proud to join with so many local communities to advance sustainability through our participation in Sustainable2050.”
The City of Delaware completed 43 eligible activities across five categories, achieving the Platinum designation. Highlights from Delaware include:
- Improving water quality in regional watersheds through its annual Northern Olentangy Watershed Festival and river clean-up events
- Targeting infrastructure development through its bike and pedestrian master plan to serve a higher number of people and jobs, and increase sidewalk coverage
- Contributing toward a reduction in the number of fatalities and serious injuries from crashes through numerous safety improvements, including participation in MORPC’s pilot Systemic Safety Improvement project
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission completed 50 eligible activities across five categories, achieving the Platinum designation. Highlights from MORPC include:
- Reducing the percentage of commuters driving alone and increasing the percentage of commuters riding transit, bicycling or walking through its employee commuter benefits
- Increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles and fueling infrastructure by installing EV charging and purchasing electric vehicles
- Helping to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste per capita disposed in landfills through a grant with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) to provide home and office food waste composting services
- Guiding Central Ohio communities toward more sustainable neighborhoods through initiatives such as insight2050, transportation safety, mobility and residential services
Sustainable2050 members are certified by MORPC’s Sustainability Advisory Committee and recognized by the commission’s board representatives. More than 30 local communities committed to work toward more sustainable practices through the initiative, meaning additional communities will be certified in the near future.
Additional information about Sustainable2050 is available at morpc.org/sustainable2050.
