Four projects in Montgomery County received funding from the Maryland Board of Public Works under the Greenspace Equity Program from the Department of Natural Resources.
The projects benefit local governments, land trusts and nonprofit organizations working to enhance green spaces in underserved communities across 14 counties.
The Reach Hub Urban Farm, a collaboration between the Charles Koiner Center in Silver Spring and Montgomery County Public Schools, received $302,185 to help bring sustainable farming education and community engagement to nearly 18,000 students.
Dorothy’s Woods in the City of Takoma Park received $82,000 to improve an undeveloped parcel into a passive park by removing impervious surfaces and invasive species and replanting with low meadow, native, deer-resistant understory plants and trees.
The Clarksburg Yard Community Open Space, a partnership between Fairfax Community Church and Common Ground Earth Inc., received $120,319 to build an outdoor gathering space by adding benches, tables, chairs and other site amenities for public use.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission was awarded $300,000 to create a large, ADA accessible community garden at Wheaton Regional Park. Henderson Avenue Community Gardens will be enclosed with fencing to prevent deer browsing. It will feature a cistern and bulk compost storage to support sustainable plant growth.
Established by Maryland General Assembly legislation in 2023, the Greenspace Equity Program supports the creation, preservation and improvement of public green spaces, enhancing the public health and community livability in overburdened and underserved communities.
The Greenspace Equity legislation defines areas as overburdened if environmental health measures show they are affected by pollution sources at higher levels than other areas and underserved based on income levels and other indicators.
