Open space is a major driver of quality of life in the DC Metro region. The Trust for Public Land recently named the DC region #1 nationwide for park access; continued protection and enhancement of those resources remains a critical priority for the region in the face of climate stressors. These projects will enhance resilience in this region by stewarding open space and protected lands, which protect water quality in streams and rivers, mitigate urban heat island effects, and promote social benefits such as health, a sense of place, and community connections. This can include increasing access to open space during social distancing, including creation of pop-up parks. Projects should align with existing climate resilience strategies or land management plans, such as Sustainable DC 2.0, the Maryland Climate Action Plan, or plans for management of protected areas.
Eligible activities include: conservation; pollution prevention; community engagement; developing or updating open space plans; improving applicant-owned open spaces, including planning costs; acquisition of parcels of land to be used for open space; and acquisition of conservation easements.
2021 Environmental Stewardship Grantees:
Audubon Naturalist Society, $10,000 – to engage 60 residents of Edmonston and Riverdale Park in monitoring the health of nearby streams
City Blossoms, Fort Stanton Urban Farm, $10,000 (renewal) – to support the development of Fort Stanton Urban Farm as a Community Green Space in the Historic Anacostia neighborhood, a farm that is free and open to all and designed as a tool for children and youth to learn and explore
City of Hyattsville, City-wide Tree Planting, $9,975 – to plant 75 trees in the public right-of-way to help restore the city’s tree canopy, which is depleted by emerald ash borer
DC Greens, The Well at Oxon Run, $10,000 – to open a farm for health and community-building for the neighborhoods of Bellevue, Washington Highlands, and Congress Heights
Laurel for the Patuxent, Patuxent Riverfront Restoration, $7,850 – to plant 75 trees on a ¾ acre forest restoration site as the first phase of the restoration of Riverfront Park
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Incentivizing a Transition from Two-stroke Gas Engine Lawn Equipment to Electric, $7,175 – to start a rebate program to encourage residents and businesses to transition from the use of gas-powered lawn equipment to electric
Town of Landover Hills, Landover Hills Forest Trail, $10,000 – to improve and provide interpretive signage along a 750 foot trail that provides a key connection between public lands and extend the trail to a nearby road to improve access
Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, Suitland Parkway Southside Forest Restoration Phase 2, $10,000 (renewal) – to remove tens of thousands of pounds of trash and rescue native trees from invasive vines along a 2.1 mile stretch of Suitland Parkway
