Awards & Recognition
The city's commitment to excellence has brought the organization an array of awards and recognition throughout the years. Many of these achievements have been held year after year, and all have stemmed from the overall organization's effort to make Wilsonville a wonderful community to live, work, and play in.
sterling Tree City, USA Designation
For the 21st consecutive year, the City of Wilsonville has earned “Tree City USA” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA program supports the healthy growth of urban and community forests. Cities earn Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Wilsonville is one of just 66 Oregon cities to earn the designation, and just one of 10 cities in Oregon to earn Tree City USA’s Growth Award for innovative projects that exceed Tree City USA standards. With its 10th Growth Award, Wilsonville is now a Sterling Tree City USA. Recently, the City increased its tree maintenance by $20,000 and developed the Bee Steward program, which enhances the wildlife habitat. Soon the City is developing additional parks at Villebois new parks and open space in Villebois, especially RP 7&8, will bring in more trees into our urban forestry system.
Why trees? They can yield 3-5 times their cost in overall benefits, including:
- Reducing costs for energy, stormwater management, and erosion control.
- Cutting energy consumption by up to 25%.
- Boosting property values
- Building more cohesive neighborhoods
The nationwide Tree City USA program began in 1976 and is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters. For more information, visit https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/
Town Center Team Recognized by OAPA
City planners Miranda Bateschell and Jenn Scola display the Public Involvement and Participation Award that the City of Wilsonville received from the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association (OAPA) in October 2018. The award recognizes the City’s work to develop a community-driven vision for the Wilsonville Town Center. More than 100 public events provided community members with opportunities to share feedback about the project, which is being presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration this winter. For information on the long-term project to reimagine the Town Center area, visit WilsonvilleTownCenter.com.
Healthy Eating Active Living
On March 18, 2013 Mayor Tim Knapp read a proclamation that designated Wilsonville as the first city in Oregon to receive an ‘Active’ HEAL City designation. HEAL , “Healthy Eating, Active Living” is a partnership between the Oregon League of Cities, Kaiser Permanente and the Oregon Public Health Institute. Wilsonville received this honor due to current policies re: community gardens, farmer’s markets, safe routes to schools, sidewalk connectivity, and bike lanes.
National Recreation & Parks Association
In 2012, Wilsonville was one of four cities across the U.S. to be awarded a $50,000 ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE) by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The grant prompted community members to pursue activities such as implementing a tobacco-free parks policy, healthier snacks in grocery store checkout aisles, and the addition of healthy items on children’s menus at a local restaurant.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has designated the City of Wilsonville a Bronze Walk Friendly Community. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program and Wilsonville is among eleven communities that was recognized in the inaugural round of announcements.
State Recycler of the Year
The city’s Green Team Chair was awarded the 2010 State Recycler of the Year Award in the government category by the Association of Oregon Recyclers. The award recognizes individuals for their exceptional contributions to recycling and waste prevention efforts in Oregon. Award recipients show a long term commitment to waste prevention, innovation in implementation plans, enhancement of the environment, and a lasting program with transferability.
State Land Board Award
The Oregon State Land Board established an annual awards program in 2003 for the purpose of promoting and recognizing responsible, sustainable stewardship of state resources by individuals and organizations. The City of Wilsonville was the recipient of the 2006 State Land Board award for the Lower Boeckman Creek Fish Passage and Stream Restoration Project.
Governmental Finance Officers Association Recognition
Since 1997, the City of Wilsonville's Finance Department has been recognized annually by the Governmental Finance Officers Association, for producing award level comprehensive annual financial reports. The department has also received the annual award for an outstanding budget document since 1998.
Best Pretreatment Program Award
The city's Industrial Pretreatment Program has been nominated by its peers in Oregon and selected from all other National Pretreatment Programs by the EPA as having the best Pretreatment Program in 1999 and then again in 2005. This National Excellence award is given to those programs that think outside the box and are leaders in there fields for using a watershed approach that extends beyond its city's boundaries.
Savvy Award
The city received a Savvy Award at the 19th annual City-County Communications and Marketing (3CMA) conference in Kansas City for Bob Murase's Imprint of the Wilsonville Landscape video presentation.
The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications.
Hammurabi Award
The Masonry & Ceramic Tile Institute of Oregon selected Wilsonville City Hall as a meritorious masonry and tile project for 2007. Held every two years, the Hammurabi Awards are named in honor of King Hammurabi and his code of laws — some of the first guidelines governing the construction of dwellings recorded in history. The purpose of the awards program is to recognize excellence in masonry and ceramic tile design and craftsmanship.
WTS Portland Chapter Project of the Year
The Boeckman Road extension was chosen as the Advancing Women in Transportation, WTS Portland Chapter Project of the Year for 2007. The award was selected based on criteria that ranged from multi-agency, public, and private cooperation; coordination and support; unique or innovative design to address environmental issues and conditions; overcoming extraordinary hurdles or challenges; women in meaningful leadership roles; vision beyond the ordinary; and a successful outcome.
