Greenways—corridors of protected public and private lands—link recreational, cultural, and natural features and provide multiple public benefits. They provide paths for people and wildlife; protect forests, wetlands and grasslands; and improve the quality of life for everyone. Often associated with rivers, stream valleys, mountain ridges, abandoned railroad corridors, and utility rights-of-way, greenways also can be built along canals, scenic roads or other linear features.

Eastman Kodak Company, the National Geographic Society, and The Conservation Fund are the partners in the Kodak American Greenways Program, an annual program that recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations for exemplary leadership in the enhancement of our nation’s outdoor heritage. The program was established in response to the recommendation from the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors that a national network of greenways be created. Since the program’s inception in 1989, more than $800,000 has been granted to nearly 700 organizations in all 50 states.

The program also provides small grants to land trusts, watershed organizations, local governments and others seeking to create or enhance greenways in communities throughout America.

National Kodak Awards

2009 Kodak American Greenways National Award Ceremony
From left: Antonio Perez, Chairman & CEO, Eastman Kodak Company; Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman,  National Geographic Society; Alexie Torres-Fleming, National Award recipient; Erik Meyers, Vice President for Sustainable Programs, The Conservation Fund; Rosie Zamora, National Award recipient; Rick Wagner, National Award recipient; Larry Selzer, President & CEO, The Conservation Fund; David Kiser, Vice President and Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, Eastman Kodak Company.

The Conservation Fund accepts nominations of individuals, organizations, corporations and public agencies that should be recognized for outstanding achievements related to the creation of greenways, blueways, trails and open space systems throughout America. Up to four winners of National Greenway Awards are recognized during a public awards ceremony at the National Geographic Society in Washington DC. The 2009 ceremony was held on October 19th. Click here for the news release.

Learn more about past National Award Recipients, including the 2009 winners.

20th Anniversary Special Presentations

2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the Kodak American Greenways Awards. We celebrated this occasion by acknowledging Eastman Kodak and The National Geographic Society for their continuing support of these awards. Antonio Perez, Chairman & CEO, Eastman Kodak Company and Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman, National Geographic Society (pictured above with award recipients) accepted the special awards at the October 19th ceremony.

Pictured from left: David Kiser, Vice President and Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, Eastman Kodak Company; Larry Selzer, President & CEO, The Conservation Fund; The Honorable Lamar Alexander, United States Senator; Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman, National Geographic Society; Pat Noonan, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, The Conservation Fund.

Kodak American Greenways Program Grants

The Program operated by The Conservation Fund invites land trusts, local governments, and other organizations to submit proposals for small greenway project grants. Funded projects typically advance one or more of the following Program goals:

• Catalyzing new greenway projects
• Assisting grassroots greenway organizations
• Leveraging additional money for conservation and greenway development
• Promoting use and enjoyment of greenways

If you have any further questions, please email  kodakawards@conservationfund.org

In 2009, 28 nonprofits and public agencies received grants, including:

• Swain Family Intervention Services, Inc., for construction of signage along trails near Lake Fontana in western North Carolina that protect historic rural family cemeteries.

• Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance, for a water trails webpage that will provide downloadable maps, information and other interactive features for the Pend Oreille River and accompanying trails in Oregon.

• Berrien County Health Department, to lay out a “Rail to Trail” greenway around Benton Harbor that will provide new recreational opportunities for county residents.

   

  Partners

  Eastman Kodak Company has been a leader in photography for more than 100 years. Today, as the world's imaging leader, it sets the standard in traditional picture taking, while working to bring the latest in digital imaging technologies to the marketplace. Kodak was the recipient of the 1999 World Environment Center Gold Medal for International Corporate Environmental Achievement, and has earned ISO 14001 registration for its corporate environmental management system.

  National Geographic Society is the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization. Since 1890 the Society has supported more than 9,000 explorations and research projects, adding to knowledge of earth, sea, and sky.