Society of American Travel Writers Presents Conservation Awards

Miscou Island

Five outstanding projects in the tourism industry each received a 2010 Phoenix Award from the Society of American Travel Writers

The Phoenix Awards were created in 1969 to recognize conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution accomplishments as they relate to travel.  The 2010 winners are:

Miscou Island, Miscou, New Brunswick, Canada

Miscou Island is one of the single most beautiful spots in the world.  The island always had the raw materials to become a top tourism draw, but the local tourism industry took the lead to develop the potential.  Now, visitors can beach comb, bird watch, climb the lighthouse, and walk the interpretive boardwalk through the bog while feeling as if they are on the very tip of the world.

Trans Canada Trail, Montreal, Canada

The Trans Canada Trail (TCT) was created as part of Canada’s 125th anniversary mostly along defunct rail lines, old logging trails, and historic waterways and pathways.  It is a multi-use corridor linking Canada’s major cities and attractions from coast to coast.  At 10,000 miles, the Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest trail network, with an expansion in the works for the eventual completion goal of 13,670 miles from Atlantic to Pacific and to the Arctic oceans.

The High Line, New York City

This vertical public park was originally constructed in the 1930s to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s busy streets.  Section 1 re-opened to the public in June 2009 and since then, The High Line has welcomed more than 2 million visitors.  It attracts not only New York residents, but visitors from around the world.

Central Park Conservancy, New York City

Founded in 1980 by civic philanthropists dedicated to ending Central Park’s serious decline and restoring it to the brilliance created by 19th-century designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the Central Park Conservancy remains committed to its mission “to restore, manage, preserve Central Park, in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of present and future generations.”  More than 25 million people visit Central Park each year, with at least 20 percent coming from outside New York City.  As both a National Historic Landmark and a New York City Landmark, Central Park is the first public park built in America and currently the most frequently visited urban park in the country.

Dr. Mary Majka and Mary’s Point Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve, Harvey, New Brunswick, Canada

Every year, between 75 and 90 percent of the world’s population of migrating shorebirds stop for food and rest at Mary’s Point.  Thanks to the vision of Dr. Mary Majka, a trained naturalist, a valuable shorebird reserve was re-claimed from private ownership and developed into an asset for future generations.
 

Valere Tjolle
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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1144873.php