Stormwater Partners Network

What a difference a year makes when the County, watershed groups and the communities work together to protect our natural areas. A year ago Matthew Henson Park and Turkey Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek, were trashed. The County had spent millions of dollars in restoring Turkey Branch (see write up), but the stream and park was full of tires, car batteries, construction debris and litter (link to Spring 2009 Update) . Last spring we pulled tons of trash from the park and stream. Follow up clean ups were organized in the fall and during Volunteer Day on January 20th.

Community organizers, supported by Friends of Rock Creek Environment (FORCE) and the Parks Volunteer Office (Lynn Vismara!) have started turning the Park around. Challenges remain, but steady progress is being made.

Tania Gerich (community organizer), Eric Durland (FORCE). and Lynn Vismara (Parks Volunteer Coordinator)

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Here is a press release by Jennifer Chambers of the Potomac Appalachian Trails Club  (see also the event flyer):

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, National Trails Day, the Northwood Chesapeake Bay Trail project sponsors, Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT), Northwood High School (NHS), Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC), Neighbors of Northwest Branch (NNWB), and MD State Highway Administration (SHA), will celebrate the land restoration project completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a 5k Bay Fun Run and Hike. The celebration and 5k will start at 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Kaplan Stadium behind Northwood High School, 919 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring. Leaders from each partnering organization will officially open the new green space and the new, nature interpretive Northwood Chesapeake Bay Trail at 10:00 am. The 5k run will follow at 10:20 am and at 11:00 am, walkers will hike the new trail that connects the school to Northwest Branch Park. The Georgetown North Face store and Silver Spring Pacer’s store will provide merchandise and gift certificates as door prizes for hikers and runners. In addition, the celebration will have health and environmental education resource and activity tables (more…)