BATAVIA – Two Batavians who “wanted to get involved” in 1991 when they moved to Batavia were named the 2012 Batavia Citizens of the Year today.

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will honor Steven and Britta McKenna on Jan. 26 at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner. 

In a press release, Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke described the pair as a “dynamic team, one that has always been supportive of whatever the town is working on."

According to Batavia Park District Executive Director Allison Niemela, she is especially thankful for the integral role Britta and Steve played for over two decades onthe Batavia Riverwalk.

“They have an incredible work ethic and I’m honored to work alongside them,” Niemela said in the release. “What they work on turns to gold and I’m grateful their Midas touch has benefitted the Park District.”

The McKenna family arrived in Batavia in 1991 due to a job transfer for Steve and a desire by the two of them to get back to their Midwestern roots. As a stay-at-home mom with two small boys, Britta McKenna was the first to reach out to the community. Fortuitously, Batavia was trying to get a river walk project underway and was looking for organizational help.

A lover of the outdoors, Britta not only embraced the project, she jumped in with both feet. She became a volunteer board member of the Batavia Riverwalk Committee and served as its marketing director. A couple of years later, Steve McKenna joined the Riverwalk Committee as a board member and its treasurer.