First Green Grant Award Goes to Mill Mountain Zoo
Congratulations to the Mill Mountain Zoo, in Roanoke, who was chosen to receive a $1,000 award for our first Green Grant award for 2022! The Zoo submitted a proposal in the Community Beautification grant category for the installation of a moss wall next to the Zoo’s Lynx exhibit area, as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 12th Annual Green Grants Program.
It is the first of thirty grants to be awarded throughout Virginia in June.
The Mill Mountain Zoo promotes education and wildlife conservation while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare in the nation. The Zoo is home to approximately 150 different animals. Green walls provide many benefits to the environment, including naturally cooling external air, mitigating air pollution, and supplying natural thermal insulation for the interior of the buildings to which they are attached. They will also provide a healthy, aesthetically pleasing experience for guests as they enjoy the Zoo grounds.
Mill Mountain Zoo’s Green Wall Expansion Project includes planting flowers and greenery and the creation of a mountain scene with a wooden frame to represent the Mill Mountain Star; and a colorful wall of moss designed in a flowing pattern along the length of the exterior restroom wall.
In a typical year, the Zoo serves 15,000 children through educational programming and events in 24 school districts throughout the region – including diverse, underserved, and marginalized populations. These programs are available to schools and homeschoolers, retirement homes, libraries, churches, and more.
We can’t wait to see the results of Mill Mountain Zoo’s green wall, and hope that you’ll visit them and support this unique green project. Congratulations!