The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will give its Community Impact Award for 2024 to the Batavia Peace Projects initiative, led by the Batavia Parks Foundation, according to a press release from the Chamber of Commerce.
The initiative is being honored for a variety of projects focusing on peace, including raising money to install new lighting and permanent metal lettering on the iconic Peace Bridge in Batavia.
Since the bridge is one of the most photographed locations in Batavia, according to the release, the Batavia Parks Foundation partnered with the city of Batavia to install a “selfie station” on the Wilson Street Bridge which offers a clean view for photos of the Peace Bridge.
In addition, a Batavia Peace Garden was opened in the fall in one of the garden beds at South Riverwalk Plaza. The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners, Batavia Parks Foundation, community members and the Batavia Park District parks staff dug in to complete the project, the release stated.
According to Britta McKenna, president of the Batavia Parks Foundation during the projects, the Peace Projects Initiative was designed to “capture the spirit of volunteerism and community engagement that is uniquely Batavia.”
To maintain these projects and to fund the development of future Batavia peace projects, a Batavia Parks Foundation Peace Projects Fund was established and is now accepting donations through the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley at www.cffrv.org.
According to the release, the Batavia Community Impact Award is not routinely given. The committee which determines the Batavia Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year and Spirit of Batavia award winners can also present Community Impact Awards when appropriate.
The award goes to projects or initiatives that have a grand significance and impact on the community, the release stated.
The Batavia Community Impact Award and other honors will be presented on April 24 at the Chamber of Commerce’s “Inspire 2025: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us” awards night at Revelry, 675 S. River St. in Batavia.
For ticket information, register online at bataviachamber.org/events or call the Batavia Chamber of Commerce at 630- 879-7134.
