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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW AWARD PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS Leadership at County Level to be Recognized Each Year WASHINGTON, DC, September 30, 2004 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- A call for nominations for a new national award, recognizing leadership in countywide land conservation programs, was made jointly today by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). 
Since 1995, more than 100 counties have passed bonds and revenues to support investments in open space, parks, watersheds, recreational lands, and wildlife preserves. Counties are playing a leading role in local and regional land conservation planning. This new TPL-NACo award, the County Leadership in Conservation award, recognizes leadership, innovation, and successful implementation of park and recreational investment by county leaders.
"Counties across America are taking more responsibility for maintaining the character of their communities," said Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land. "Our partnership with counties - and the National Association of Counties in particular - is not new, but our formal recognition of the best efforts to think strategically about how best to grow is an exciting opportunity to highlight conservation models for the rest of America." 
Three or more awards will be presented each year to officials (elected or appointed) representing governments of NACo-member counties based on small, medium, and large county populations. The awards will be presented in partnership with the National Association of County Planners and the National Association of County Parks and Recreation Officials.
"County officials understand the increasing need for land conservation programs," said NACo President and Lake County, Ill. Board Member Angelo D. Kyle. "This new award, in which NACo is proud to present with the Trust for Public Land, will showcase the efforts of several county leaders and hopefully spur more county officials to recognize the importance of land conservation programs." Nominations will be judged based on a broad range of criteria including leadership, innovation, benefits to underserved populations, and benefits to quality of life and environmental quality. The deadline for submissions is November 19, 2004 and the awards will be presented at an annual conservation awards program, as part of the NACo National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2005. Additional information and nomination forms can be accessed on the Web at either www.tpl.org/awards or http://www.naco.org/conservationawards or by calling 617-367-6200. The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization which conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since its founding in 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 1.9 million acres in 46 states. TPL depends on the support of individuals, foundations and corporations. Visit TPL on the Web at www.tpl.org. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a full-service organization that provides legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance to county governments. Created in 1935, NACo continues to ensure that the nation's 3,066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and Congress. CONTACT: Ernest Cook, TPL, 617-367-6200; ernest.cook@tpl.org Jeremy Ratner, NACo, 202-942-4220; jratner@naco.org
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