Generosity, storytelling, relationships and cycling – these are the four guiding principles behind Cycling Without Age, an innovative program that has been named one of Lakewood’s 2018 Sustainability Award winners.
Cycling Without Age uses a unique bicycle that allows older adults to sit comfortably on the front while a pilot pedals behind, letting older adults feel like a kid again while the pilot has the privilege of listening to a lifetime of stories.
Lakewood is celebrating the 11th anniversary of its Sustainability Awards on May 7, with a reception at 6 p.m. and recognition of the 2018 winners at 7 p.m. during the Lakewood City Council meeting at 480 S. Allison Parkway.
The eight winners showed how creativity, passion and determination can create healthier communities, keep waste out of the landfill, spread environmental awareness and bring neighbors together.
Eaton Senior Communities and Lakewood Bicycle Advisory Team launched Cycling Without Age.
Zero Waste Services hosted a clothing swap, distributed reusable bags and organized other creative events to promote waste diversion in Lakewood.
The Lakewood Heritage Center Volunteer Gardeners exemplified sustainable gardening by avoiding synthetic fertilizers, donating produce and composting all of the garden waste.
The Action Center used creativity to improve its ReClothe Program, which connects 230,000 pieces of clothing to neighbors in need.
The Green Mountain Area Homeschoolers taught their community how to safely coexist with wildlife through educational displays, presentations and youth activities.
The Dunstan Middle School Student Council created a schoolwide energy saving challenge that led to a $10,000 award for additional energy upgrades.
Teachers and staff at Lakewood’s 11th Avenue and Patterson Head Start facilities successfully designed compost collection in their classrooms and became zero waste champions for their students and co-workers.
Lakewood Recreation Programmer Renee Jones implemented a zero waste approach at older adult recreation events, reaching more than 1,200 individuals each year.