Every year, hundreds of thousands of racing fans pile into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch what promoters bill as “The greatest spectacle in racing” – the Indy 500. Cars bring fame to this Indiana city, but planners are moving to reclaim the streets for pedestrians and cyclists. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is transforming eight miles of downtown streets to include wider sidewalks and two-way bike lanes that are separated from car traffic. Attractive landscaping will also play a central role, with the goal of encouraging more people to use alternative forms of transportation. The year-old Indy GreenPrint program has also begun to revitalize the rest of the city. The program includes plans to replace resource-intensive turf lawn with natural vegetation, create an environmentally preferable purchasing plan, and become more energy efficient. The city has also signed onto the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.
(Photo by Ryan E. Poplin)
Submitted by Angela Herrmann
In the 2006 SustainLane survey of the 50 largest U.S. cities, Indianapolis didn’t rate so well. While Indy ranked 45th in its ability to weather an oil crisis, it fared slightly better in the Local Food and Agriculture rankings at 31st. Not surprising, given Indianapolis’ love-affair with all things automotive. But something has happened in Indianapolis since 2006: a growing awareness of sustainability.more »
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Looking for a Media Specialist to create, implement and monitor a comprehensive social media strategy for the Kiwanis family. Programs would include but not be limited to: Builders club, Key Club, Circle K, adult programs, and the next generation of Kiwanis programming. more »
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP, a Division of The Davey Tree Expert Company, has opportunities in the field of Utility Forestry, as a UTILITY FORESTER / ARBORIST for major electric utility provider. more »
SustainLane Staff
Six of every 10 streams in Indiana contains mercury levels exceeding the state water quality standard, according to a report out by the U.S. Geological Survey. more »
Is there any link between political affiliation and sustainability policy? We ran the numbers!
It is a great honor for the City of Boston to be ranked sixth by SustainLane.com, a company internationally recognized for its research methodology. SustainLane's study is proof that cities around the country are heading in the right direction and serves as an important motivating factor for city administrations to work hard at cleaning up the environment. —Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston
US City Rankings, next edition!
