About the Award

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence award was established in 2009, in honor of Ellen Pickering’s lasting legacy of preservation and conservation in the City of Alexandria. As an activist, Mrs. Pickering first gained recognition for her lobbying efforts more than 40 years ago that ultimately helped create the Mount Vernon Trail. She also managed the installation of 1,000 resident-donated cherry trees during her tenure as chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

The annual award honors individuals, organizations, and businesses who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to environmental protection and sustainability that Ellen Pickering demonstrated throughout her life.