Shelby Farms recognized for Greenline half marathon | Public Spaces

The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy has earned the silver certification for sustainability from the Council for Responsible Sport for the Greenline half marathon.

Council for Responsible Sport Executive Director, Keith Peters, announced Wednesday that the Greenline Half Marathon, held at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tennessee in October  2012, has earned silver certification from the Council for producing the first sustainable sporting event in Tennessee.

The event, which benefits Shelby Farms Park Conservancy  earned 43 of the 44 attempted credits.

There are fewer than 50 events worldwide that have earned certification, and the Greenline Half Marathon aims to set new standards for the future of sporting events.

It took nearly a year to plan for the intensive certification process. SFPC worked closely with Dian Vaughn, a Green Events consultant, to gather information about previously certified events, find ways to innovate and to ensure that all factors of the race were taken into consideration. On race day, Vaughn guided the event inspector through every element of the race, making sure that no detail went unnoticed.

Noteworthy Environmental Accomplishments

• 91.3% of event waste (including the post-race party) was diverted from the landfill through recycling and on-site composting of water cups, utensils and food waste
• All food served at the post-race party was locally sourced
• Use of solar powered race timing

Noteworthy Social Accomplishments

• SFPC partnered with Clean Memphis and Memphis City Beautiful to train a group of developmentally disabled adults from Behavioral Services of Tennessee how to recycle in their homes. After their training, the group volunteered at the finish line of the race