Press Release: NEIGHBORS, NONPROFIT CREATE “POCKET PARK” for EARTH DAY
On April 25th 2009, Watershed Management Group (WMG)will hold an Earth Day celebration and water harvesting workshop at a vacant lot just south of the University of Arizona, at 8th St. and Martin Ave.in the Rincon Heights neighborhood. 50 volunteers will install water harvesting features and a strawbale wall to begin the transformation of the lot into a natural “pocket park.” Fronting on High School Wash, a rare riparian area in the heart of Tucson, the park will feature native plants, signage and seating areas to provide recreation and highlight the value of the wash for wildlife and humans alike. The project is part of a larger effort undertaken by WMG and Rincon Heights residents to improve stormwater quality, create urban wildlife habitat, and beautify the neighborhood by installing rainwater harvesting features along its streets. The park project is funded by a grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The free event will include lunch, live music, and presentations from Desert Museum junior docents on local and urban plants and wildlife.
Watershed Management Group seeks to improve people’s lives through grassroots projects that integrate community development and conservation. For more information, contact James MacAdam at 780-9416, james@watershedmg.org. To learn more about WMG’s innovative programs, visit their website at www.watershedmg.org.