As part of Mayor Mark Mallory's green agenda, the Cincinnati Parks Department is undertaking many environmentally friendly steps as part of its Green Initiative program.

The most visible step is their new renewable energy system, a solar and wind pilot project at the Park Board administration building at (BIRD'S EYE).

Twenty percent of the building's power is provided by a 10 kilowatt wind generator and a 10 kilowatt array of photovoltaic solar panels, installed by Third Sun Solar & Wind Power, Ltd. of Athens, Ohio.

The six arrays of 90 solar panels were installed in December 2006, and the wind turbines were installed on a 120-foot tower in April 2007.

The renewable energy sources are tied into the electrical grid, meaning that any excess power generated flows back into the utility system.

Funding for the project came from a $60,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development's Energy Loan Fund and a donation of the solar panels, valued at $45,000, from Duke Energy.

Another eco-friendly addition to Cincinnati's Parks has been the Big Belly "smart" garbage cans, installed at Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park, Krohn Conservatory and at Piatt Park.

The cans, which are produced by Seahorse Power Company, use solar power to self-compact, requiring fewer visits by public services crews - meaning a lessening of emissions and fuel use.

The Parks Department also boasts the conversion of 33 percent of its mowing fleet to soy-based biofuel.

A number of green-themed initiatives and events will be held throughout 2008, including:

* Installing a new solar-power system at its Avondale operations center
* Reforesting inner-city neighborhoods
* Adding more Big Belly cans to its parks
* Building additional rain gardens throughout the community

This Saturday, Cincinnati parks will hold its "Green-up Day in Cincinnati Parks", to be held at the California Woods Nature Preserve from 9 AM to noon.

A similar event will be held May 3 at Burnet Woods in Clifton.