Coon Rapids Opens Nominations for 2026 Earth Month Sustainability Awards

COON RAPIDS, Minn. 

The Coon Rapids Sustainability Commission is accepting nominations for the 2026 Earth Month Sustainability Awards, an annual recognition program that highlights residents, businesses, and organizations advancing environmental stewardship across the city.

City officials are encouraging community members to nominate neighbors and institutions whose work demonstrates clear and measurable “eco-wins,” from clean energy upgrades and habitat restoration to waste reduction and volunteer-led environmental action. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, February 28, 2026, with award recipients to be formally recognized at a Coon Rapids City Council meeting in April 2026.

How to nominate

Nominations can be submitted by emailing sustainability@coonrapidsmn.gov. Submissions should include the nominee’s name and a brief description of their sustainability accomplishments, including what was done, why it matters, and how it benefits the Coon Rapids community.

According to city records, the awards are intended to support broader municipal sustainability goals, including efforts tied to long-term environmental planning and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

What qualifies as a sustainability win

The Sustainability Commission, established in 2008, typically evaluates nominations through the lens of several priority areas, including:

• Energy efficiency, such as residential or commercial solar installations, heat pumps, or major weatherization projects
• Water conservation, including rain gardens, smart irrigation systems, and shoreline or watershed restoration
• Waste reduction, such as composting programs, expanded recycling, or zero-waste business practices
• Native habitat restoration, including bee lawns, prairie gardens, native tree planting, and removal of invasive species like buckthorn

For businesses, the Earth Month awards often complement the city’s Community Sustainability Partner Recognition Program, which uses a points-based system to encourage green building materials, employee-led green teams, and operational sustainability improvements.

Previous award recipients

Past honorees reflect the wide range of sustainability efforts taking place throughout the city.

• Anoka-Ramsey Community College was recognized for installing a bee lawn and prairie garden to support pollinators on its Coon Rapids campus. The college has also invested in energy-saving infrastructure, including a solar wall on its Science Building that pre-heats intake air and reduces heating energy use.
• Mary T. Inc. received recognition for its long-running annual Earth Day trash pick-up, which mobilizes volunteers to remove litter from parks and trails and helps prevent pollution from entering local waterways.
• Local residents have been honored for installing residential solar arrays, often leveraging city-supported energy planning tools and incentive programs to transition to renewable power.
• Anoka-Hennepin Schools, a 2024 award recipient, was recognized for installing solar panels at Adams and Hoover elementary schools, with projected annual energy cost savings of 10 to 25 percent.

A community-driven recognition

City leaders say the Earth Month Sustainability Awards are designed not only to celebrate individual achievements, but also to inspire broader participation in environmental action across Coon Rapids. By highlighting practical, locally driven solutions, the program underscores how everyday decisions by residents, nonprofits, schools, and businesses contribute to a more resilient and sustainable city.

Community members interested in nominating a sustainability champion are encouraged to submit their nominations before the February 28 deadline.

MinneapoliMedia