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  Summer 2013
 
Restoration Project  
 
 
The Mill Creek Restoration Project will be transforming itself to Groundwork Cincinnati – Mill Creek and joining the Groundwork network in June 2012. GWUSA welcomes the new Trust into the network and looks forward to joining forces in restoring the Mill Creek river watershed and its surrounding communities.

Click here to read about a recent EPA visit to the Mill Creek watershed.
In samenwerking met Villarte en Alamire Foundation.
 
 
Groundwork Providence  
 
 
Ray Perreault of Groundwork Providence at the former site of Sprague Industries, which is a brownfield site. Groundwork Providence is turning it into a tree nursery. In the background are the Westfield Lofts.

Click here for the news story in the Providence Journal. Ray Perreault of Groundwork Providence at the former site of Sprague Industries, which is a brownfield site.
 
 
The mission of the Groundwork USA  
 
 
The mission of the Groundwork USA network is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.

Reclaim vacant and derelict lands for conservation, recreation and economic development.
 
 
Groundwork Trusts  
 
 
The development of new Groundwork Trusts is lead by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program in partnership with Groundwork USA. The first step in the process is to learn about the Groundwork model, and the work of our local Trusts nationwide and to discuss this opportunity with other stakeholders in your community.

If the Groundwork mission and approach is in line with your community’s needs and goals, and you think there may be interest in developing a Groundwork Trust, then contact Groundwork USA (GWUSA) or the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program (NPS) for more information.
 
 
Trails & Greenways  
 
 
Brownfields and vacant lots that are clustered can become incredible green corridors running through and connecting distressed neighborhoods, providing greater access to parks, waterways, and nature within the built environment.

Learn more here about how Groundwork Lawrence, in Massachusetts, successfully helped to catalyze development of the Spicket River Greenway through a multi-faceted river reclamation campaign featuring hands-on volunteer engagement in cleanups, advocacy, habitat restoration, trail development, and most notably, development of four brownfield-to-park projects.
 
 
Groundwork Steering  
 
 
As part of the evaluation, after the initial communities are selected, representatives of NPS and Groundwork USA meet with the local Groundwork Steering Committee to give them a better understanding of what Groundwork is and what it is not. It will also enable NPS and GW USA to learn more about the local communities and their ideas for what a GW Trust could do to help reclaim derelict lands and improve access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources in their community. This evaluation phase will run from February to the end of May, 2013.

At the end of the evaluation phase, communities that are still interested will submit full proposals, which will be due on June 28, 2013. Up to 2 communities will be selected for funding and technical assistance to develop a Groundwork Trust.

More details
 
 
GW Hudson Valley  
 
 
GW Hudson Valley has been awarded an EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant, focused on the Lawrence Street neighborhood in Yonkers, NY, and the Putnam Spur Rail Trail project. EPA awarded approximately $4 million in grants to 20 communities across the country to assist with planning for cleanup and reuse of brownfields properties. More than half of the recipients are located in the NEMW region, including sites in IL, IN, IA, MA, NY, OH, PA, VT, and WI, and aims to promote community revitalization by using cleanups to stimulate local economies and protect people’s health and the environment.

GWUSA Sustainable Community Building 2013