Elizabeth River Trail Foundation Awarded $1,000 Green Grant
Elizabeth River Trail Foundation in Norfolk is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.
Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.
The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation (ERTF) plans, programs, and advocates for the 10.5-mile Elizabeth River Trail, a multi-modal urban trail that connects 28 neighborhoods along Norfolk’s historic waterfront. Their vision is to be a global model of waterfront trail resilience and education, advancing connected communities, inclusive infrastructure, and economic development across a regional trail system. Over the past eight years, ERTF transformed the trail with public art, play structures, kayak launches, picnic areas, bike repair stations, and more. They have installed over 500 wayfinding signs and planted native trees and pollinator gardens.
The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s “Nature For All” project is a collaborative initiative focused on horticultural education and environmental stewardship along the Elizabeth River Trail. The project offers hands-on educational experiences to deepen the community’s connection with nature and local ecosystems and provides a wide range of programs on topics like plant science, native species, soil health, sustainable gardening, and pest management. The Managed Meadow revitalization project is a key initiative under this effort, with ERTF working alongside Norfolk Master Gardeners and local experts to enhance biodiversity along the trail.
Funds from the Green Grant will be used to purchase Virginia native plants, gardening tools, an on-deck storage bin, and other equipment for the project.
Field trips, workshops, and gardening projects will take place along the trail. Participants will learn how to cultivate gardens, plant native species, and apply sustainable practices to enhance the environmental health of the trail and the surrounding community. Current programs include 6-8 botanical tours annually, led by Master Gardeners, which showcase the significant trees along the Elizabeth River Trail. With support from Keep Virginia Beautiful, Nature For All will advance sustainability, conservation, and environmental education, making the ERT a model for urban trail ecology and equitable public space development.