Jean Mahoney wins Margen Penick Award

The Sandra Starr Foundation has awarded its Margen Penick award for contributions to planning, design, and the environment to Jean Mahoney, a leader of the Sensible Transportation Options Partnership. The award was presented at the Foundation's conference, "Princeton: The Big Picture," on the morning of Communiversity, April 28, 2001, at the Princeton University Art Museum.

In a letter nominating Jean Mahoney for the award, Princeton Borough Councilman David Goldfarb wrote:

“In response to the proposed Millstone Bypass, Jean organized a coalition that began as a neighborhood group and has grown to encompass over 20 local, regional, and statewide organizations. The coalition was instrumental in convincing Gov. Whitman to require an environmental impact statement for the Millstone Bypass. For the first time, the New Jersey Department of Transportation will be forced to consider the effects of one of its roadways beyond the immediately adjacent area.

"Jean's patient and open-minded leadership of the coalition has created an atmosphere in which diverse groups are working together to challenge development patterns that some had assumed were an inevitable consequence of New Jersey’s home rule laws. The focus of the coalition has moved beyond the Millstone Bypass to include Sarnoff's plans to house up to 10,000 employees on its land in West Windsor Township and Princeton University's proposed mixed-use development on the former Princeton Nurseries land in Plainsboro Township. The coalition is addressing the root causes of suburban sprawl.

" … the success of the coalition is largely attributable to Jean’s leadership. I am confident that all who have participated in the coalition's efforts share my enthusiastic recommendation."

The Margen Penick award is named after a long-time Princeton leader on environmental and planning issues who died in 1998. During the 1970s, Margen Penick was co-founder and chair of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Coalition, which led the effort to preserve the canal. She chaired the Princeton Regional Planning Board from 1975 through 1982 and in her last years co-chaired the Consolidation Study Commission, which recommended the creation of a single town of Princeton by joining together Princeton Borough and Princeton Township.

For a report on the Communiversity conference, "Princeton: The Big Picture," see the program, or please e-mail the Foundation at dkaple@princeton.edu