Welcome to the first installment of Going Green, our new series that will highlight parks’ eco-friendly and sustainability efforts that promote a cleaner environment.
First up is Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The seaside park recently published its eco profile that highlights some of the steps that are being taken to ensure the protection of the environment. Below are a few of those measures:
- Recycling or reusing approximately 180 tons of material annually
- Reclaiming approximately 1 million gallons of water annually for landscaping and other non-potable water applications
- Installing the first solar powered trash compactors in Northern California
- Recycling oil generated from vehicles and rides, green waste generated from landscaping, and electronic waste
- Cleaning the beach in front of the Boardwalk daily during the Spring and Summer
- Providing discounted bus passes, as well as bicycle and skateboard locker to encourage employee use of alternative transportation
- Providing electric vehicles for maintenance crews
The park has received a long list of rewards for its green efforts. From “waste reduction” to to “bike friendly” awards, the park has racked up a respectable number of these honors. A full list can be seen here.
We’d like to send a huge thank you to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for their green initiatives. Hopefully more parks will follow SCBB’s lead and post their own eco profiles.
Look for more Going Green installments soon.
Thanks for the feature.
Here’s to a successful and Green 2012!
Donaven Staab
Webmaster / Internet Marketing Mgr
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Perhaps they could phase out selling junk phood and ensure that the healthier food they will sell instead is served with washable plates, forks, cups, etc.
Amusement parks generate a huge amount of garbage to sell the crappy food they serve. If we were serious about “being green” we would phase out this unnecessary plastic (and paper) trash. Hot water (generated with solar panels) and biodegradable soap is simple and the correct approach. There are festivals in Germany that run all of their dishes through large dishwashers, but they don’t have the illusion of limitless resources there, unlike the US.
I still haven’t ridden the Santa Cruz Giant Dipper, I hope to in 2012.