McAllen Showcased At National League of Cities Expo
A City of McAllen "Go Green" display wowed guests and vendors at the Congress of Cities Expo, in San Antonio, this past week.
The theme of the City's booth was "Conserve, Recycle, Sustain" and featured several items made from recycled materials. Among them were a stone walkway showcasing recylced glass, metal art made from recycled tools, and recycled art made from native wood. Video monitors also highlighted the "Go Green" efforts of several city departments.
The booth was surrounded by a large amount of live plants and trees.
"One of the first words is 'wow', I can't believe this, this is awesome" said the City of McAllen's renewable resources manager Ouina Rutledge, about the response from Expo attendees who saw the display. "And, most people are surprised to learn about our efforts in South Texas and that there is a part of Texas south of San Antonio. They love the ambiance, and the atmosphere and we tell them this is what you'll have when you come to McAllen."
Several city departments collaborated on the project including Quinta Mazatlan, Parks and Recreation, Building Maintenance, Public Works, Keep McAllen Beautiful and the McAllen Cable Network.
"We want to promote to the other cities in the nation that we're not just a border town but a green and sustainable city, and a destination for people," said Rutledge.
The Congress of Cities Expo, a National League of Cities conference, provided city leaders with information on funding opportunities and how to address complex issues such as job creation, education, community health and public safety along with a host of other topics.
Among some of the seminars were Downtown Revitalization, Green Jobs, Green Affordable Housing, Health Care Reform and Cities, and Increasing Government Efficiency Through Technology.
View photos from the event.