Canton Projects Promote Interaction With Nature

BY LAUREN JOHNSON

When a city values its greenspace and wildlife, people want to be part of that and raise their family or retire there. Canton’s Roadmap for Success tenet, Sustaining our Natural Environment, was a natural fit (pun intended) into the overall vision the city had for itself, as well as in the initiatives that were already taking place.

Recycling, river cleanup and earning the designation as a Tree City USA, 30 years and counting, have been long-standing efforts in the city, encouraging residents and visitors to place value on preserving our local environment.

Kelly Pendley, operations director of public works, came on board for the city in 2017, and much of her work focused then, and continues now, in sustainability for the city. Pendley helped establish a Green Plan for Canton, pursued the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Communities Certification and coordinated the city’s first Earth Day event. She started a city recycling program, held twice a year, for hard to recycle items, such as paint, tires and electronics, and she serves as the staff liaison for the Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Board.

“The board will be at the Canton Farmers Market on Oct. 15,” Pendley said. “We will serve there as recycling educators, and to ask for and listen to community input. The board really wants to learn from residents about new ideas of environmental efforts the city can make.”

City council puts emphasis on the Sustaining our Natural Environment tenet through any development that comes to Canton by asking developers to incorporate the Roadmap’s sustainability objectives.