By Brad Bowman

If you’ve been to a local playground with a crumb rubber surface over the last 20 years, it’s very possible Lisa Evans had a hand in it. Evans has worked with the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Crumb Rubber-Tire Derived Products Grant for the past two decades. The Kentucky Parks and Recreation Society (KRPS) recently honored Evans with its highest award for her service – the Special Citation Award. The award recognizes individuals, private industry or agencies that have given outstanding help or aid in the field of recreation or leisure-time pursuits.

Evans has administered the grant for almost its entire history, according to Gary Logsdon, assistant director, Division of Waste Management.

“In that time, Lisa has overseen the program’s growth in scope and popularity, and more importantly has helped transition the emphasis on landscaping mulch to poured-in-place paving for playgrounds and walking trails,” Logsdon said. “These newer uses for recycled tire rubber provide superior performance compared to the older products and add significantly more economic value in the recycling process.  This grant program has been a success story, and Lisa is very deserving of this award.”

Crumb rubber, made from scrap tires, reduces negative impacts on the environment, reduces waste and can be used for athletic surfaces, modified asphalt, railroad crossings, acoustic buffers and playground surfaces that reduce impact and injury.

Since administering the grant, Evans said she’s helped award $10.8 million in grant funding for 769 projects, including 52 poured-in-place playgrounds; 19 walking track/trails; 178 landscaping projects; 39 picnic tables and benches; four additional trial projects; 296 projects for loose crumb rubber playgrounds (no longer eligible for grant funding); and 74 athletic fields/fitness areas (no longer eligible for grant funding).

“I love working with grants and getting to meet the wonderful people out in the state,” Evans said. “The sense of helping applicants obtain grant funding for their much-needed projects and the happiness I feel to know that I help make it happen…” is both professionally and personally rewarding.

The award was presented by KRPS President Patrick Manning at the group’s annual conference and trade show at Lake Barkley State Resort Park earlier this month

In a KRPS press release, Evans was commended for her “… dedication to speaking, getting the information in the right hands, building the relationships, (and) her ability to organize and keep track of all the applicants, assisting and following up and being there throughout the process has made a lasting impact on Kentucky’s playgrounds.

“The accessibility of parks through crumb rubber grants allows the state to recycle the tires and provides a valuable opportunity for our communities. There are playgrounds all over the state of Kentucky that have crumb rubber mulch or pour in place surfaces that would not have been possible without Lisa’s assistance.”

Honored by the nomination for the award by her peers, Evans said her goal is to help and improve the state any way she can. “The many friendships I have made — both personal and professional – will go with me throughout the rest of my career.”