Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards

The Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards are presented by the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS® to Washtenaw County individuals, organizations or businesses who are proactive on environmental issues including:

• Using products that contain recycled materials or energy saving qualities.
• Taking steps to clean up environmental problems.
• Developing innovative recycling or reuse programs.
• Restoration and remodeling efforts that promote historical preservation and reuse materials.

Congratulations to the 2022 Recipient!

The 2022 Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award was given to Barry Lonik. About Barry: He has led the effort to establish the model farmland and natural area protection programs in Washtenaw County for nearly 30 years, some of the most successful in Michigan. Barry started the Legacy Land Conservancy and served as its first executive director for six and a half years, developing it into an effective nonprofit organization.

He has been involved with ten ballot campaigns—nine of which won—that will raise almost $200 million of public funds for the acquisition of land and conservation easements. He is currently president of Treemore Ecology and Land Services, Inc., consulting with nonprofits, local governments, private landowners and conservation buyers toward the protection of natural and agricultural lands.

Through Barry’s direct involvement, nearly 8,000 acres of land have been permanently protected in and around Washtenaw County, and he has attracted over $16 million of state and federal matching grants for farmland protection.

Resources:
Ann Arbor Greenbelt Millage

Township land preservation programs:
Webster Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Charter Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Twp. Protected Properties Map
Scio Twp. Land Preservation Commission

Purchase of Development Rights:
Preserving Farmland and Open Space

For more information on his work, please visit: https://farmsfortomorrow.org/guests/barry-lonik/

Past Environmental Awareness Award Recipients

1997 - Mallet's Wood: Efficient use of land.

1998 - Sunward CoHousing: Efficient use of land.

1999 - Huron Valley Watershed Council: Adopt a Stream Program.

1999 - Ed Shaffran: ReUse of buildings.

2000 - ReUse Center: Recycling efforts.

2000 - EnHouse Recycle Ann Arbor: Green building demonstration.

2001 - Habitat for Humanity

2002 - Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Project: Wetland preservation.

2003 - Mallet's Creek Library: Environmental friendly building practices.

2005 - Barry Wallace: Lifelong commitment to keeping Washtenaw County drinking water pure.

2005 - Cardea Construction: Green renovation of home at 1515 South Maple.

2006 - The Conlin Company: Reduction of paved parking areas in Scio Village Condominiums.

2006 - The University of Michigan School of Natural Resources: Green renovation of building.

2007 - Mayor John Hiefje: Environmental friendly policies.

2007 - Robyn Angle: Green construction of Clearlake home.

2008 - Big George's Appliance Mart: Green construction of new store on Stadium Boulivard.

2009 - Gordon Hall

2009 - The Cedars

2010 - Architectural Resources, LLC: Embracing green initiatives in her work as a REALTOR.

2010 - Meadowlark Builders: Their reuse, recycling, and energy efficient practices.

2011 - Laura Shope: Embracing green initiatives in her work in real estate.

2011 - Habitate for Humanity Huron Valley.

2012 - Matt & Kelly Grocoff, GreenovationTV.com

2012 - First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor

2013 - Matt & Rene Greff, Arbor Brewing Company

2013 - The Betty Brigade

2014 - Urban Energy Works, LLC

2014 - The Village of Dexter

2015- Ann Arbor Learning Community

2015 - City of Ann Arbor Greenbelt District Program and Green Things Farm

2016 - Urban Ashes

2017 - Faith in Action and Alex Young of Zingerman's Roadhouse & Cornman Farms

2018 - Happy Planet Running and Barbara Lucas, The Green Room, WEMU

2019 - The Ann Arbor Public Schools and South Arbor Charter Academy

2020 - Richard Andres & Deb Lentz, owners of Tantre Farm and Washtenaw Food Hub

2021 - 3Mission Partners

2022 - Barry Lonik