Union Presbyterian Seminary to Receive a $1,000 Grant

Congratulations to Union Presbyterian Seminary who is today’s announcement of a $1,000 grant award in the Community Beautification category of the 2022 Green Grants program!

Union Presbyterian Seminary, an institution of higher education since 1812, has been the anchor of the Northside Richmond community for more than 100 years.  Union’s desire to make Northside Richmond a more livable community has been the impetus for developing an eco-park called Yaupon Place.

Yaupon Eco-Park will be a 19-acre communal resource that will provide opportunities for those who live and work in the Northside area of Richmond to re-create healthy relationships within oneself, with each other, and the Earth.  Programming and landscape plans are under development and include an ecological component to be included as part of Northside YMCA summer camps for children, a 6-acre urban farm, and a local environmental justice academy for teens.

Funds awarded by Keep Virginia Beautiful will be utilized to purchase plants and landscaping supplies that will add beauty, functionality, and vitality to community gardens and an urban farm planned for the park.  Several other organizations and community volunteers are engaged to support the project as well.

This project is a wonderful example of how communities can improve the beauty and utility of public space.  We look forward to seeing the “after” pictures of this project!