(Photo via Town of Queen Creek)
By YourValley
Queen Creek’s Water Resource Director Paul Gardner has received the 2023 Distinguished Public Official Award from the American Planning Association, Arizona Chapter.
“The Distinguished Public Official Award is quite fitting for Paul,” Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley stated in a press release. “He began his legacy in the community in 1985 when he took over the operations of the Queen Creek Water Company after his grandfather passed. Paul was one of five individuals who would spearhead the town’s incorporation effort and become known as the QC5 or the town’s Founding Fathers. These early efforts changed the trajectory of the community – and Paul’s involvement didn’t stop there. He has been at the forefront of the town’s water strategy, and we are thankful for his vision and continued efforts.”
Gardner helped with the development of the town’s first General Plan as he served on the first town council. The plan embodied the vision of the town’s founding fathers, “laying a foundation for a thriving community that embraced its agricultural heritage and family friendly atmosphere,” the release added.
