The Mariners’ Museum and Park Awarded $1,000 Green Grant
The Mariners’ Museum and Park is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification Category as part of our 13th 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, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.
Founded in 1930, the mission of The Mariners’ Museum & Park in Newport News is to connect people to the world’s waters, helping visitors engage with nature, learn about the ecosystem, and how to protect it. Their 550-acre park, 167-acre lake, and award winning, 5-mile Noland Trail are free and open to the public; while admission to the museum only costs $1, and includes access to programs such as SOL-based presentations that serve over 15,000 students annually; Maritime Cultural Heritage Programming; and Life-long Learning lectures and workshops.
Recognizing the important role the Park plays in creating a vibrant community, they have made significant investments in the health of the forest, lake and wildlife. One key challenge identified in a Dept. of Forestry’s care plan is the concentration of invasive species, such as English Ivy, which kills native trees along the Noland Trail causing them to fall, creating increased access and safety concerns for Park visitors.
The Green Grant award will be used to complete Phase II of the Mariners’ Park Community Planting Project, which involves eradicating the invasive ivy on the trees and the grounds, and replacing it with a native Mayapple ground cover in an 8,000 sq. ft. area along the Noland Trail. Mayapple will play a crucial role to help maintain ecological balance in the forest, provide a food source for native wildlife, and reduce runoff into Mariners’ Lake.
Funds will be used to purchase the tools and supplies needed for the project, such as a Gorilla Heavy-Duty Yard Dump Cart for work at the site, which is inaccessible by motor vehicle; rubber work gloves for staff and volunteers; and mature Mayapple Plants that will provide sufficient ground cover.