PERC donates $5K to Miami-Dade County Parks Foundation

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) donated $5,000 to the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade County. The donation was given to the county as a part of the Green Leadership City Award, which PERC bestowed upon the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department for its use of propane mowers.

The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department began using propane mowers in 2008 and now runs 95 percent of its fleet on propane, PERC says. Its mowers are used on the county’s parks and sports fields, as well as for 122 residential communities in the county’s special tax districts. By switching to propane mowers, the department has seen lower fuel costs, less downtime and increased productivity, PERC adds.

“Using propane mowers has allowed our department to set a new standard of environmental stewardship for our community,” says Miami-Dade Parks Director Maria Nardi. “The financial benefits we’ve enjoyed because of lower fuel costs and an increase in crew productivity while operating with propane is just icing on the cake.”

PERC hopes that the award will encourage more municipalities, counties and public agencies to begin using propane-fueled mowing equipment.

“The Green Leadership City Award aims to highlight public agencies that demonstrate a commitment to environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices, and the parks department at Miami-Dade is a model agency for others to follow,” says Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “For nearly 10 years, the Miami-Dade parks department has maintained the community’s green spaces with propane mowers, which reduce emissions and greenhouse gases that can be harmful for the public. They should be commended for that effort.”