Terra Firma
Terra Firma is a five-year initiative by Emerald South to beautify, maintain, and activate over 400 acres of vacant lots on Chicago’s mid-South Side. The project’s goals are to Clean, Green, Beautify, Activate, Own and Develop vacant lots, seeing them as valuable resources.
Read MoreManhattan Marsh
The Manhattan Marsh Metropark is a park in the north of Toledo, Ohio that includes a boardwalk trail and over 90 acres of wetland for visitors to observe the natural wildlife. In collaboration with the City of Toledo and the Lucas County Land Bank, Metroparks Toledo was able to be transferred over 3 dozen parcels through the land bank’s tax foreclosure work.
Read MoreWhite Oak Savanna
Protecting the 20-acre White Oak Savanna in West Linn preserves a special habitat – and, for commuters who zoom by on Interstate 205, a spectacular view. A soft-surface trail will allow visitors to experience this unique habitat, showcasing remarkable vistas over the Willamette River to Canemah Bluff. More about this project >
Read MoreWestmoreland Park
A popular Southeast Portland park gets an upgrade with the restoration of Crystal Springs Creek and new play area to help children discover the natural environment. The nature play area — the first permanent one in Portland — incorporates logs, boulders, sand, water, plants, hills, and opportunities for building with “loose parts” such as branches,…
Read MoreWapato Marsh
Hillsboro’s Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve serves as a destination for hiking and bird-watching – and a living example of restoration. Partners are transforming 120 acres of degraded wetlands at Wapato Marsh into a healthy ecosystem. More about this project >
Read MoreWalnut Way
The Walnut Way Conservation Corporation established itself as a resident-driven, community development nonprofit by reclaiming a vacant building and planting peach trees. Since that first revitalization and planting in 2006, the Lanier Heights nonprofit has blossomed into managing more than 100 urban agriculture sites. Profits from harvesting and selling hundreds of pounds of peaches, cherries,…
Read MoreSilo City
Many are drawn to Silo City to witness the ruins of the grain shipping industry that built this city, but there is also inspiration to be found in the fecundity of nature on this 27 acres where decades of human abandonment has set the stage for new ecological relationships to evolve. Today this place is…
Read MorePower in Dirt
Power in Dirt was an initiative sponsored by the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office’s stepUP! Baltimore Campaign in 2011/ 2012. The program allowed residents to adopt vacant lots and gain support from nonprofit and city partners like the Baltimore Green Space land trust to beauty abandoned and deteriorated properties. Residents could receive a temporary, 1-year lease…
Read MorePark Avenue Transit Station
When TriMet’s newest MAX line pulls into Park Avenue Station in Oak Grove, riders will experience the region’s first sustainable, habitat-friendly park-and-ride. Green features will include a recreated riparian forest and a natural stormwater treatment system. The project will be highly visible, situated along Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard and the new Trolley Trail.  More about this project…
Read MoreHumboldt Conservation Corner
A historic property in North Portland’s Humboldt neighborhood has been transformed into an outdoor classroom and living laboratory. The demonstration garden, housed at the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District office, gives visitors ideas to try at home.  More about this project >
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