Wilmette is looking toward a more sustainable future with the hire of Lucy Mellen as sustainability coordinator. She will be working in a joint agency position, serving as a go between for the village, the Wilmette Park District and other agencies.
Executive Director of the Park District Steve Wilson said in a news release that Mellen will predominantly work to ensure that all agencies of the village are aligned on the sustainability initiatives outlined in the village’s Greenest Region Compact Sustainability Plan. The plan was signed in 2021 with various goals including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased water efficiency and advanced renewable energy uses.
The Wilmette Park District doesn’t have its own plan but Mellen doesn’t see this a hindrance.
“It may not be working from a concrete plan, but the Park District has been implementing sustainable practices for years,” Mellen said in the news release.
She said her first steps are to look at current practices to then refine into an environmental plan that can guide future policies.
Mellen has a background in environmental studies and sustainability with a degree in the field from Indiana University. After graduation she worked as a coordinator for Richmond, Indiana’s grant-funded heat management program, Beat the Heat. While there she created the city’s first heat management plan.
The personal stories and feedback from residents hit home for Mellen who grew to enjoy working in the public sector. This brought her to Wilmette where she said she could work in a broader role where she hopes to instill a sustainable mindset in the village.
“It’s all about ensuring that future generations are able to enjoy all the wonderful things we have access to currently,” Mellen said. “The goal across all participating organizations is the same: create a more sustainable Wilmette that is a resilient place for residents to live and work.”