[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 175 (Friday, October 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  IN RECOGNITION OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS PARKS DIRECTOR PATRICK 
                                SULLIVAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 2020

   Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Patrick Sullivan, Parks Director for the City of 
Springfield, Massachusetts, for being honored with a Lifetime 
Achievement Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency. I would like to include in the Record two articles 
from the Springfield Republican that highlights his achievements. Pat's 
outstanding career deserves the highest praise for his continued 
efforts to implement environmentally cognizant initiatives that benefit 
both our environment and thousands of local residents.

                   [From the Springfield Republican]

     Springfield Parks Director Patrick Sullivan Receives Lifetime 
      Achievement Award From U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

                            (By Peter Goonan)

        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 percent decrease in 
     energy use in city buildings since 2007, Sullivan said.
        Sullivan said he is perhaps most proud of the organic lawn 
     care program in the city, in which the city has reduced the 
     use of synthetic fertilizers in city fields and parks, by 
     replacing them with organic products. The synthetic 
     fertilizers have chemicals that leach into the groundwater 
     and ultimately enter the rivers and streams, he said.
        Sullivan continues to work on developing plans for a 
     public education program on the impacts of synthetic 
     fertilizers, officials said.
        The EPA summary said that Sarno, in nominating Sullivan 
     described Patrick's steadfast work to build an 
     environmentally friendly community.
        Sullivan, a Springfield native and resident, has worked 
     for 33 years for the city including as director of parks, 
     buildings and recreation management.
        During his career, Sullivan has spearheaded more than $80 
     million in park construction projects, has helped improve 
     ponds and lakes, and has overseen more than $500 million in 
     school renovation projects including roofs, windows, boilers 
     and environmental management systems, the summary said.
        Sarno, in a prepared release, congratulated Sullivan on a 
     well-earned and deserved lifetime achievement award. He 
     called Sullivan his point person on Going Green initiatives 
     in Springfield.
        ``Pat has always been my 'Green Person,' '' Sarno said. 
     His visionary and practical leadership has not only been good 
     for our environment, but also the bottom line of our budget 
     too.
        Sullivan said that working within Forest Park is a dream 
     job in itself. He recalled that when he began with the 
     department, the current rose garden area was just a 
     ``sunken'' ground that would fill with water. It was restored 
     to its current beauty, he said.
        Some of the buildings were deteriorated and in jeopardy 
     years ago including the Barney Carriage House and old Forest 
     Park Zoo building. The carriage house was fully renovated and 
     the old zoo building is planned as a horticultural learning 
     center.
        Sullivan was one of nine people in New England, including 
     three people in Massachusetts who received the EPA's 2020 
     Environmental Merit Award--Lifetime Achievement award for his 
     dedication and support of the environment.
        Others receiving the Lifetime Achievement award in 
     Massachusetts were Margaret VanDeusen of Boston, and the late 
     Barbara Cianfarini of Pittsfield.
        The recipients were honored by teleconference, due to the 
     coronavirus, with Sullivan and Sarno taking part. Those in on 
     remote video call included U.S. Environmental Protection 
     Agency Regional Administrator Dennis Deziel, and the 
     Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 
     Commissioner Martin Suuberg.
                                  ____


                   [From the Springfield Republican]

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recognition of Springfield Parks 
                Director Patrick J. Sullivan on the Mark

                     (By The Republican Editorials)

        More cites and town throughout the U.S. are taking a 
     proactive, measured and coordinated stance toward protecting 
     the environment. As a result, Going Green initiatives have 
     been cropping up to study how power is generated and 
     analyzing energy management systems within municipal 
     buildings and schools. The goal, of course, is to make 
     upgrades and create improvements.
        Larger cities, including Chicago, have notable goals. 
     Mayor Lori Lightfoot has embarked on a sustainable energy 
     program within the city to power all city-owned buildings 
     with renewable energy by 2035. Springfield has also been 
     aggressive in partnering with private companies and non-
     profit agencies to develop measures to cut down on energy 
     usage. With its Climate Action and Resilience Plan, the city 
     has conducted building-by-building surveys to identify areas 
     where improvements to power generation, air quality and 
     lighting that will not only cut down on carbon emissions but 
     save the city millions of dollars.
        As a point person in Springfield's Going Green 
     initiatives, City Parks and Building Director Patrick J. 
     Sullivan is instrumental in working with a variety of groups 
     to lead studies and identify and create carbon emission 
     reduction goals. It is notable and commendable that Sullivan 
     was recently honored by the Environmental Protection Agency 
     with a lifetime achievement merit award for his multi-year 
     effort to improve energy efficiency. Sullivan, who has worked 
     for the city for the past 33 years, was one of nine people in 
     New England and three in Massachusetts who received the EPA's 
     2020 award. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said of 
     Sullivan, his visionary and practical leadership has not only 
     been good for our environment, but also the bottom line of 
     our budget, too.
        As a result of a multi-year effort to improve energy 
     efficiency, the city as experienced a 30% decrease in city 
     buildings since 2007.
        According to Sullivan, one his proudest achievements is 
     the organic lawn care program in which the city has reduced 
     the use of synthetic fertilizers in city fields, replacing 
     them with organic products, thus protecting rivers and 
     streams from toxic runoff.
        Coordination at the local government level to form 
     partnerships with the business community and other agencies 
     to identify and study energy use and develop conservation 
     measures is vital to help reduce carbon emissions. Large and 
     small cites all have role to play. Having an experienced, 
     dedicated person leading these efforts, such as Sullivan, can 
     only get us closer to building an environmentally friendly 
     community.

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