Three Communities Nationwide Awarded Funding for Green Stormwater Infrastructure Community Outreach and Education
Grant funding provided by the National Recreation and Park Association and Southwest Airlines
Ashburn, Va. (May 9, 2018) – (RealEstateRama) — For the second year in a row, the National Recreation and Park Association(NRPA) and Southwest Airlines® are proud to partner on a Community Outreach and Education Grant program to help fund green stormwater infrastructure projects in underserved, low-income communities across the United States. As part of the program, grants totaling $30,000 were recently awarded to three communities to help engage residents in the planning, implementation and ongoing maintenance of local green stormwater infrastructure projects.
The three projects that received grants are:
- Boston Parks and Recreation Department; Boston, Massachusetts
- The Greening of Detroit; Detroit, Michigan
- Tualatin Riverkeepers; Tualatin, Oregon
Drawing upon the success of last year’s projects, NRPA will work in partnership with these communities to identify best practices and innovative strategies that effectively empower the community to influence the design of a green stormwater infrastructure project that best suits their needs, while also benefitting the local environment. To read about last year’s projects in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Covington, Kentucky, and Gary, Indiana, and learn about the strategies used to build meaningful relationships and empower local residents, check out this recent article from Parks & Recreation magazine.
“Many communities across the country are investing in green stormwater infrastructure because of the many co-benefits. In addition to addressing environmental challenges, these projects can increase access to nature, create job and educational opportunities for surrounding residents, and provide space for recreation and physical activity. However, for these projects to be successful, local residents must be part of the design and planning process. This funding will help communities build that much-needed support,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA director of conservation.
Unlike traditional gray stormwater management, green stormwater infrastructure uses natural processes to filter and slow the flow of water to protect and restore clean and healthy waterways. Examples of green infrastructure include rain gardens, bioswales, constructed wetlands, daylighted streams and permeable pavement. Publicly owned parks are ideal venues for the installation of these solutions, as they offer a variety of benefits beyond stormwater mitigation, especially in underserved communities where flooding and water quality are a concern. To learn more about the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure, watch this video.
The Green Stormwater Infrastructure Community Outreach and Education Grant program is part of NRPA’s Great Urban Parks Campaign, which aims to improve environmental and social outcomes in underserved communities through green stormwater infrastructure projects in local parks. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.nrpa.org/greeninfrastructure.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
About Southwest Airlines
In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.
From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “The Southwest Effect,” a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.
