Community Corner

Chambers Creek Properties Bridge Wins Award

Gov. Christine Gregoire released the winners of her "Smart Communities Awards."The bridge, which opened last year, was recognized, in part, for making the path to the shoreline safer.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has awarded Pierce County a 2011 Smart Communities Award for enhancing the quality of life by building the Bridge to the Beach.

The pedestrian bridge, which opened in September 2010, provides safe public access to more than two miles of Puget Sound shoreline along the county-owned Chambers Creek Properties.

Pierce County was one of 12 communities recognized Wednesday, June 8, by Gov. Gregoire. The Governor's Smart Communities Award Program highlights outstanding efforts to create quality communities through achieving the goals of the Growth Management Act and other community development objectives. A statewide panel of growth management and community development leaders reviewed the nominations and selected Pierce County's Bridge to the Beach Project as the winner under the "Smart Partnerships - Development Project to Implement a Plan" category.

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"I am proud of the investment that the local community and the State have made over the past 10 years to provide enhanced public access throughout the Chambers Creek Properties," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "The Bridge to the Beach project is a key reflection of this investment. This project offers a wonderful enhancement to the quality of life in the South Sound and it is an incredible asset to the citizens of Pierce County."

The Public Development Division of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities is the award recipient, with special recognition of the 10 staff members who successfully delivered the project. The bridge, which stretches nearly 900 feet and peaks at 28 feet above busy railroad tracks, required three years of planning and 10 months of construction.

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Here's is Gregoire's statement:

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the winners of her 2011 Smart Communities Awards for creating livable communities in Washington State

“Washington state needs to create and maintain vibrant communities if we want to continue to attract a strong workforce and growing businesses,” Gregoire said. “I’m proud of the remarkable work that’s going on across our state to balance economic growth with sustainable development."

The 12 communities recognized this year are considered models in planning for smart growth. They have shown outstanding work in: 

  • ·         Innovative and wise land use, resource management, enhanced rural preservation, water utility planning, and transportation planning;
  • ·         Effective city-county partnerships and achieving significant public participation; and
  • ·         Incorporation of public safety and community gathering places, density supporting transportation, and reducing vehicle miles traveled, and downtown revitalization as key components of their growth plans.

 This year’s Smart Vision Award in Comprehensive Planning winners are Kitsap County, the City of Olympia and the City of Poulsbo. Smart Choices Awards in Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan went to the City of Chelan, City of Bothell and City of Vader/Lewis County.

Smart Partnerships Awards in Development Projects were given to the City of Hoquiam, City of Walla Walla and Pierce County. The cities of Waitsburg and Mukilteo both received Judges’ Merit Awards.

“The forward-thinking leadership demonstrated by these communities is part of what makes Washington a great place to live and do business,” said Department of Commerce Director Rogers Weed.  “Sustainable and smart growth protects valuable resources and improves our quality of life.”

Awards will be presented to city winners on June 23 at the Association of Washington Cities conference in Spokane. County winners will receive awards at the Washington State Association of Counties annual meeting on November 16 in Bellevue. The Governor has rewarded outstanding local planning efforts through the Smart Communities Awards since 2006. The Smart Communities Awards are administered by the Growth Management Program at the Washington State Department of Commerce. For more information on the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards or the Growth Management Act, visit www.commerce.wa.gov/growth.

About CommerceCommerce is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington. For more information, visitwww.commerce.wa.gov. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit www.choosewashington.com.Subscribe to Commerce press releases by email.


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