National Public Works Week

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 05, 2009

The Washington County Board of Commissioners will proclaim May 17 through 23 as National Public Works Week. This year's theme – Revitalize, Reinvest, Renew – signals a change in thinking and a new direction in practice.

Revitalizing our infrastructure means finding new ways to sustain performance, using new materials, increasing efficiency. Reinvesting in our infrastructure will ensure safety, longevity, positive quality of life. Renewing our infrastructure means replacing and reinvigorating the systems and structures on which we depend.

The public is invited to a family-friendly Public Works Fair at Washington Square May 16 and 17 supported by Washington County, Clean Water Services, the Joint Water Commission, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Activities for kids include:

• Spin the "Wheel of Safety," answer a traffic question and win a prize
• Become a "River Ranger" by learning about the Tualatin River watershed.
• Enjoy the "A-B-C's of Green Engineering" and the "P.W. Paws" coloring books
• Play Water Works Plinko and discover where your drinking water comes from
• Look both ways and cross the street safely at the traffic signal crosswalk display
• "See and be seen" on the roadway and get a safety bike/ped blinker
• Enter a drawing to win a free bicycle helmet and learn about bike safety

And for the grownup kids:

• Make a "Pledge to Recycle" and take away a durable recycle bag
• "Think Permit" to protect your family's safety at the Good-Wall / Bad-Wall
• Take the "Canines for Clean Water" pledge
• "Go Native" with native plants
• Get a free "Freeze the Grease, Save the Drain" kit
• Find out how to report street light outages
• See where the Stimulus Package money is going in Washington County
• Learn about career opportunities in public works

And much more! Kids get a free toy hard hat and can collect stickers for their hat at each display station. Grownups will find brochures and handouts, and well-informed public works staff who can answer their questions.

Instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association in 1960, National Public Works Week calls attention to the importance of public works in community life. Throughout this week, activities are taking place across the country to celebrate the dedication and commitment of public works professionals.

Clean running water, effective storm drains and sewers, sturdy roads and bridges, safe building codes – these are the foundations on which we build our communities. Working together with business and citizens, public works employees plan, build, operate and maintain our county's vital infrastructure.

Media Contact:

Victoria Saager, Public Information Officer
503.846.7616
[email protected]