Long-awaited 'green building' opens in Bowie By ANNETTE ESTERHELD Staff Writer
The city's new parks maintenance facility is home to the parks and ground staff that cuts the grass and maintains ball fields and, not only is the staff responsible for the greening of Bowie, but the new building is a "green building."
The parks and grounds staff moved into its new building about six weeks ago, but Tuesday was the formal dedication of the $5 million facility that is LEED certified "silver."
"It's a great day, a great facility and a long time coming," City Manager David Deutsch told the crowd of city staffers, residents and elected officials at the 8 a.m. dedication.
Deutsch also said that in 2003 the City Council adopted the first resolution in the state that committed to building "green." What the city did became a "template" for others, he said.
"It is a state-of-the-art green LEED silver building," said Mayor G. Fred Robinson. He thanked all the previous councils for their support in moving the city towards green building and he also thanked the state partners who supported the building with over $1 million in grants. He quipped that the city plans to turn around and ask the state for more money to assist in building the city's new city hall, also a planned green facility.
"You make the community beautiful," Robinson told the assembled parks and grounds staffers. He added that the council and the city "do not take you for granted."
Prince George's County Councilwoman Ingrid Turner joined in the celebration by presenting a plaque to the city praising its efforts towards green building.
Turner, who not only represents Bowie, but lives in the city, said she's honored and privileged to be a resident and "see the wonderful things" happening in the city.
The plaque she presented showed a tree to represent the parks and grounds staff and to honor the green building that will house them.
"The city's already beautiful," she said. The plaque was signed by both Turner and County Council Chairman Samuel Dean, whose district touches on the southern sections of Bowie.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED certificates are given by the U.S. Green Building Council to projects that show a high level of commitment to environmentally friendly features. Only the gold certificate is higher than the silver certificate that the city strived for in its parks and grounds building.
Some of the "green" components are a ground-source heating and air-conditioning system provided by a heat pump system; green roof construction in three roof sections; increased insulation in all ceilings and walls; window shading to limit direct sunlight; efficient water-saving toilets with variable flush controls and even "waterless" urinals; the use of recycled building debris; straw bale construction on two walls to increase insulation; and a host of other "green" features.
Ed Hall, parks and grounds supervisor, proudly showed off the new facility and explained many of the features while describing the work of his department as he took visitors on a tour.
Hall and his staff have been functioning from temporary quarters on city-owned property while waiting for the new building. The facility is located at 3106 Mitchellville Road, the same site as the earlier parks and grounds building. The original building was one story that the city had used since the parks department became a part of the community services department in the '90s. Staff had to move to a temporary location because of a failed septic system in the original building.
