November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 21

Recent federal funding emphasizes
support for underserved communities,
climate resilience and community health.
TreePlotter software to identify target areas for planting
and nurturing trees to increase its community's
climate resiliency and ecological health.
" Knowing exactly what you have, where you can
plant and who in the community will be benefitting
most are the most valuable tools in building a successful
and equitable community forestry program, " says
Heather Listermann, urban ecology and public spaces
supervisor at Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation.
Miami-Dade County (Florida) Department
of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces
Park and recreation professionals at Miami-Dade
County
Department of Parks, Recreation and
Open Spaces will build their community's resiliency
by increasing the tree canopy found in lowincome
areas with low tree canopy to mitigate urban
heat island effects, ensuring equitable access to the increased
canopy and tree benefits. Additionally, they
will restore critical habitats, remove invasive species
and engage residents in tree planting.
City and County of Honolulu (Hawaii)
Department of Parks and Recreation
Park and recreation professionals at City and County
of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation will
combat the negative effects of climate change through
the development of a community tree plan, increasing
local urban forestry capacity, and expanding existing
community tree canopy and tree distribution programs.
Funding Insights
While this funding has already been awarded, it provides
an insight into the funding themes that agencies can focus
on when developing projects and searching for grant
opportunities. Recent federal funding continues to emphasize
the need to support underserved communities,
increase resiliency to climate-related events, and increase
the mental and physical health of community members.
Now is the perfect time for your agency to look ahead
and focus on how your projects can incorporate these elements
to successfully receive future federal opportunities.
When reflecting on the application his agency submitted,
Derek DeBusk, business services manager at Arlington
Parks and Recreation Department, identified key
factors to their successful application: " By highlighting
how these positive impacts would extend to the communities
neighboring the park, we focused on the potential
for enhanced recreational spaces and a healthier ecosystem
for all. Additionally, we stressed the significance of
this project as a valuable source of information, which
will guide the development of a comprehensive eradication
program across our entire park system. "
As we celebrate the agencies mentioned, there are many
more entities that will be taking advantage of this funding.
A full list can be found on the Forest Service website at
tinyurl.com/2peatpzh. Congratulations to all!
Elyse Gentile is Executive Branch Specialist at NRPA
(egentile@nrpa.org).
Home Is Where Parks and Rec Is
You work hard to build a thriving, more vibrant
community. Let CivicPlus®
lend a helping hand
with your recreation management.
We appreciate you. Scan to read our
free eBook, Seven Ways Your Parks
and Recreation Efforts Are
Strengthening Your Community.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
21
http://tinyurl.com/2peatpzh
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2023 - Parks & Recreation
