Town Awards

 
 
 

tree city usa award

The Town of Chapel Hill is proud to be a recipient of this award for the past 25 years! To receive recognition, a community must meet four core standards for its public trees:

  • Form a Tree Board or Department: In Chapel Hill, the Town Arborist in the Parks and Recreation Department cares for trees on town property.

  • Establish a Tree Care Ordinance: This provides clear authority and guidance for the care of public trees.

  • Maintain a Community Forestry Program: This is required to have an annual budget of at least $2 per capita for the planting, care, and removal of trees.

  • Proclaim and Observe Arbor Day: Here in Chapel Hill, we celebrate Arbor Day in late November.

CDP A-List Award

Chapel Hill is one of 120 cities and towns worldwide to earn the 2023 CDP A-List ranking for bold climate action and transparency. This is Chapel Hill’s third year in a row receiving an “A” rating, which is the highest score awarded by the environmental nonprofit CDP.  

Cities on the A-List have demonstrated climate leadership through concerted and effective action. The requirements for this top ranking in 2023 were higher than in previous years and include: 

  • Completing community-wide emissions inventories 

  • Disclosing emissions information publicly through CDP-ICLEI Track 

  • Publishing a climate action plan 

Bicycle Friendly Community Award

This award uses the 5 E Framework to recognize communities that are creating great places for bicycling:

  • Equity & Accessibility: A Bicycle-Friendly America for Everyone

  • Engineering: Creating safe and convenient places to ride and park

  • Education: Giving people of all ages and abilities the skills and confidence to ride

  • Encouragement: Creating a strong bike culture that welcomes and celebrates bicycling

  • Evaluation & Planning: Planning for bicycling as a safe and viable transportation option

Making bicycling safe and convenient is key to improving public health, reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and improving quality of life.

 

SolSmart award

This award is given to organizations that provide the best accommodations for the solar energy community. The Town of Chapel Hill won the gold award for the following:

  1. Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers.

  2. Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar energy.

  3. Allowed accessory use solar by right in all major zones

  4. Cross-trained inspection and permitting staff on solar via in-person or online resources

  5. Hosted a Community “Solarize” campaign, allowing residents to benefit from group discounts and affordable solar financing

commuter award.jpg

best workplaces for commuters

The Town won this award for meeting the National Standard of Excellence for commuters. This means the Town provides the following for commuters:

  1. Offer a primary benefit. In Chapel Hill, this includes the fare-free bus system.

  2. Offer three secondary benefits like shuttles to and from transit stations, ride-sharing support, reduced parking costs for vanpools and carpools, etc.

  3. Work sites with this award have free emergency rides home. Our bus system provides this service.