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Hopewell

Hopewell Recreation & Parks Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Blue and yellow drawing of a heron in front of the sun with the words Hopewell Recreation & Parks 1943Hopewell Recreation & Parks in Hopewell 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 an environmental concern 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 Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department offers a variety of recreational opportunities designed to improve the overall health and well-being of the community, and offers free fitness classes, gardening programs, wellness seminars, and other resources for citizens.

Photo of park with old sign and worn benchThe Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department Green Grant project involves the installation of a new park sign for 3 ½ Street Park as part of its ongoing renovation. The new park sign is a crucial component of the renovation, as it will impact the park in terms of both beautification and standardization. The updated signage will not only improve the overall appearance of the park but also align it with other newly renovated parks in Hopewell that have received similar signage updates. It will elevate the park’s attractiveness and conveys a message of care, attention, and investment that will contribute to the overall feeling of pride and ownership that the community feels for the park.

Community Beautification is a vital part of keeping Virginia Beautiful!  Visitors and residents of Hopewell will benefit from this efforts of this Green Grant project!

Hopewell Logo

2024 Green Grants Award #25 for $1,000 Goes to Keep Hopewell Beautiful

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Congratulations to Keep Hopewell Beautiful on their Green Grants award of $1,000 for their Community Beautification plans!

Keep Hopewell Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and actively participates in events that work toward the beautification of Hopewell, in the Tri-Cities area of Virginia. Keep Hopewell Beautiful influences Hopewell’s residents to keep the City clean and beautiful, implements educational programs, encourages community involvement, and raises awareness about the environment, recycling, and waste reduction.

The Green Grants Community Beautification project will beautify Hopewell’s Rt. 10 gateway with new flowers, bushes, shrubs, and general cleanup. This is a highly visible area in Hopewell that serves as the initial greeting for residents and visitors going to the City and the historic downtown. The “Welcome to The City of Hopewell” sign greets residents and visitors, along with Hopewell High School signs. The planter bed is neglected and lacks plantings and fresh mulch. Funds provided by the Green Grants award will be used to purchase a variety of plants, mulch, and other supplies for the beautification project.

Photo of a street with an entrance sign and mulched area

Landscape design plays an important role in creating welcoming public spaces. The design of a public space can influence how people interact with it, how they feel when they are in it, and how they perceive their community. As the gateway to Hopewell and the historic downtown, this project is critical to create an inviting, attractive entrance that enhances community pride and creates a positive first impression for visitors. Currently, the area lacks appeal, and the poor image deters investment and makes nearby business owners and residents feel undervalued. Improving this area will support on-going revitalization and tourism projects, including the new 5 & Dime Scenic Drive (Rt. 10), Hopewell Rivers & Roads Festival (Fall 2024), and Downtown/Rt. 10 tree canopy efforts. This project will allow KHB to participate in the greening, beautification, and revitalization of Hopewell by increasing plantings along this heavily impervious corridor.

Beautification of the “Welcome to the City of Hopewell” sign area will benefit at least 12,000 people that pass by the proposed project location each day!  Thank you, Keep Hopewell Beautiful, for caring about the scenic environment of our Commonwealth!

DuPont Eagle Mascot

DuPont Elementary Awarded $750 Green Grant

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DuPont Eagle MascotSituated in the heart of a centrally located Hopewell neighborhood, DuPont Elementary is a Title One school that serves 600 students.  The school is committed to help forge the next generation of environmental leaders by engaging young students and providing opportunities to improve their community.

DuPont students will play a pivotal role in restoring the “Heart of Hopewell,” developing accountability, ownership, and pride within the students that will help transcend DuPont Elementary School. Since the Pandemic, litter has increased at DuPont and its neighborhood. The increased waste can be attributed to the Pandemic, lack of education, and the lack of resources to tackle this problem.

The $750 Green Grant will be used to purchase tools and resources for their Project-based learning activity for the Litter Critter Crew, such as litter grabbers, work gloves, safety vests, and recycling bins to assist their litter cleanup efforts.  They will also purchase a distance measuring wheel and hanging weight scale to give students the ability to calculate, track, and document results for their project.  Students will measure trash collected, bags collected, recycled material moved to recycle bin, and distance traveled on the 5-acre school grounds.

Students will be able to explain why it is essential to dispose of trash properly, recycle materials, and explain how peers, families, and community groups work together to promote health, prevent disease, and create a healthy community.

Students will enjoy cleaning up litter, learning, and making a difference in their community.  We hope that they’ll grow into future environmental leaders!