The “Greenest ballpark in America”
Organizations and EventsPublished August 5, 2011 at 8:33 am No Comments
Go Twins, Go Green: The Greenest ballpark in America
America’s favorite pastime may have become its greenest pastime at the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field. The Minnesota Twins organization is ahead of the curve when it comes to green thinking, which makes everyone - the team, the fans and the city of Minneapolis – a winner. The Twins commitment to the environment paid off in a big way when Target Field was awarded LEED® Silver Certification in 2010. Target Field earned 36 certification points, officially making it the greenest ballpark in America!
The eco-friendly changes at this ballpark provide a blueprint for success that other organizations can study and adopt. This is especially true when you consider that the steps taken to implement their popular “Go Twins, Go Green” initiative were not difficult or hard to maintain. All it really took was a shared vision, careful planning and the commitment to place an environmental focus on the ballpark.
According to the Twins Sustainability Statement, “The Minnesota Twins organization believes our future success – both on and off the field – is built on a business model that embraces operational efficiency, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.” The fulfillment of that statement is integrated into every aspect of the ballpark, from construction to maintenance to transportation.
Visible changes allow fans to witness the greening of their favorite team. Some changes and additions around the park include:
- A recycling bin for every waste bin. When you put your recyclables in one of these bins, you are helping 2/3 of all waste from the park to be recycled, and keeping an impressive 127 tons of organic waste out of landfills.
- Public transit made simple and easy. A collaborative effort from several local organizations, including the Metro Transit and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority, allows fans better access to the park. If you think that isn’t important, ask the motorists who were stuck on Interstate 71 during Kentucky Speedway’s Sprint Cup held in July!
In addition to what fans notice, there is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes at Target Field:
- During construction of the park, the decision was made to use locally sourced limestone. Additionally, 80% of all wood used was from sustainable forests. Construction waste, such as rubble and cardboard, was largely kept out of landfills.
- 75% of all cleaning materials at the park were part of the Green Cleaning program in 2010.
- Even the rainwater doesn’t go to waste here at Target Field. The Twins organization uses Pentair’s Rain Water Recycle System. In doing so, the stadium ensures that the lower decks are washed and the field is irrigated with two million gallons of rainwater.
The next time you sit in the stands and cheer the Twins to a hometown victory, you can literally breathe easy, knowing you are sitting in the “Greenest ballpark in America.” One additional note: thanks to a partnership between The Minnesota Twins and Minnesota State Parks and Trails, the team will plant 100 trees for every broken bat that occurs when the opposing team is at bat. So far this season, 104 bats have been broken resulting in 10,400 trees being planted in Minnesota state parks and trails. Perhaps the team can best their 2010 record of 180 bats broken, 18,000 trees planted. Let’s hope so…play ball!
