Foley, Ala. — (GSN) — The City of Foley honored Alabama Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources Chris Blankenship for his decades of work protecting the state's environment. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich presented Blankenship with a city proclamation at a recent City Council meeting. The council also awarded Blankenship the keys to the city, one of Foley's highest honors. Blankenship has spent more than 30 years in state conservation.

On Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, the Foley City Council formally presented the proclamation and keys to the city to Commissioner Chris Blankenship. Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Blankenship as commissioner in 2017, and he has served in that role ever since, overseeing conservation efforts throughout Alabama.

Mayor Hellmich said the honor is rare. In his six years as mayor, only seven keys to the city have been awarded. Hellmich noted that although Blankenship began his career in the Mobile Bay area, his work has reached well beyond South Alabama.

"This proclamation talks about South Alabama, but your impact has been on the entire state of Alabama," Hellmich said. "During my 40 years of knowing various commissioners, I don't know of another commissioner who has had such an impact on our state parks, and that's not counting the partnerships with the cities and other things that you have accomplished."

Hellmich also praised Blankenship for building strong partnerships that connected local governments, state and federal agencies, universities, and conservation organizations. Together, those relationships helped advance projects to protect Alabama's natural resources.

The University of South Alabama recently established the Blankenship Scholarship Program within its Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. The Foley City Council voted to donate $10,000 to the scholarship to support conservation education for future generations.

Blankenship said he values the relationship his office has built with Foley over the years. He cited work at Graham Creek Nature Preserve as an example of what that partnership has achieved.

"I've appreciated our partnerships with Foley," Blankenship said. "Y'all have been fantastic partners in the work at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve and other things that we've been able to work with you on. These are things that are going to have lasting impacts long after we're all gone — what's happening out there the land that y'all preserved and the good things that have happened here, how y'all are managing growth, and the good job that y'all are doing as a city."

Leslie Gahagan, Foley's sustainability and natural resources director, also participated in the proclamation presentation. The event highlighted the ongoing commitment between the city and the state to protect the region's natural spaces for future generations.