(pictured from left to right is Assistant Park Manager Jacob Bennett, Director of Education Sarah Norton, Junior Environmental Champion award winner Zef Steiert, Environmental Champion award winner Willie Puz, Park Manager Andy Flanner, and Executive Director Veronica Frehm)
North Palm Beach, FL (March 4, 2023) – The 2023 MacArthur Beach State Park Environmental Champion Award was presented to Willie Puz, Legislative and Public Affairs Manager at Solid Waste Authority (SWA) of Palm Beach County at NatureScaping, the park’s annual outdoor festival, which took place on March 4, 2023. The 2023 MacArthur Beach State Park Jr. Environmental Champion was also presented at this time to 17-year-old Zef Steiert. The Environmental Champion and Jr. Environmental Champion Awards are presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards the preservation or betterment of the Florida natural environment.
As one of the original founders of NatureScaping almost 20 years ago and the current Legislative and Public Affairs Manager for SWA, Willie Puz has made a mark in Palm Beach County as an environmental advocate. The Solid Waste Authority is the primary recycling center in Palm Beach County and during his time as Director, Public Affairs and Recycling for SWA from 2013-2022 Willie enhanced communication to residents that resulted in more than 2 million pounds of incoming hazardous waste collection volume.
“Palm Beach County is lucky to have Willie Puz,” says Veronica Frehm, Executive Director of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. “He has dedicated the last 10 years of his career to increasing education and recycling within our local community. He demonstrates the importance of sustainability to our residents and leads SWA’s legislative team to advocate for waste-to-energy and recycling issues at the state and federal level. We are honored to recognize him as our 2023 Environmental Champion.”
Zef Steiert attended summer camp at MacArthur Beach State Park at the age of six and has grown over the years to become a wonderful environmental steward for our park and role model for our Junior Friends group and summer campers. From beach cleanups to educating summer campers, Zef has become an integral part of the park’s environmental education programs with his leadership and quiet strength.
“As I have gotten to know Zef, I have been amazed with his dedication to the park, and I am so proud to be able to award him our Junior Environmental Champion,” said Sarah Norton, Director of Education.
About The Awards: The Environmental Champion annual award honors an individual who has made exceptional contributions towards the preservation or betterment of the natural environment of Palm Beach County and/or the state of Florida. This contribution can be made through scientific research at any academic level, environmental activism, education, or personal dedication to any manner of environmental subject, theme or issue. Any environmental organization or individual may make a nomination. We accepting both youth and adult nominations. The nominations are then voted on by the NatureScaping Steering Committee and the award is presented at a ceremony during NatureScaping.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach County’s only state park, is situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The Park is made up of 436 acres of pristine coastal land and contains four different communities or habitats including seven species of plants and 22 species of animals on the endangered or threatened list. For more information about MacArthur Beach State Park visit, macarthurbeach.org.
#####