courtesy  :  epa

green space

Open space is any open piece of land that is undeveloped (has no buildings or other built structures) and is accessible to the public. Open space can include:

• Green space (land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation). Green space includes parks, community gardens, and cemeteries.
• Schoolyards
• Playgrounds
• Public seating areas
• Public plazas
• Vacant lots

Open space provides recreational areas for residents and helps to enhance the beauty and environmental quality of neighborhoods. But with this broad range of recreational sites comes an equally broad range of environmental issues. Just as in any other land uses, the way parks are managed can have good or bad environmental impacts, from pesticide runoff, siltation from overused hiking and logging trails, and destruction of habitat.

Lack of community and public access to safe open and green space is a critical area of concern for urban residents in New England.

• Grants & Projects
• Additional Resources

Grants & Projects

2006: EarthWorks (Roxbury, MA)
Campaign for a Greener Tomorrow
$30,000
EarthWorks engages residents of Greater Boston’s urban neighborhoods in the community stewardship of local green space and raises ecological awareness through education, outreach, training and demonstration projects. EarthWorks will provide training, education, and hands-on learning experiences for residents and youth to protect, enhance, restore and preserve Boston’s open and green space. The “Campaign for a Greener Tomorrow” project will recruit, educate, and train resident volunteers to act as stewards of public green space and orchards at seven urban sites throughout the highly diverse, densely populated neighborhoods of Mission Hill, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Roslindale. EarthWorks staff will work with residents and teen interns to measurably improve the ecological health and biodiversity of these sites through hands-on training, environmental service learning projects, and follow-up activities to illustrate integrated pest management, reduction of toxics in soil, organic agriculture, and orchard preservation. In addition to coordinating this extensive volunteer resident network and training effort, EarthWorks will provide environmental and public service events for youth and urban residents to encourage safe use of Boston’s public green spaces and orchards.

Measurable Results: Increased community involvement with a minimum of 40 project days and 240 days of environmental service; two internships for teen graduates of Youth Environmental Action program; restoring and improving plant biodiversity at seven sites covering 33.25 acres of urban green space by planting 230 native trees and shrubs; removal of thousands of harmful invasive species at four urban woodlands restoring 31 acres; reversing erosion at an urban woodland site; measurable improvements in quality and yield of fruit in five urban orchards; and establish 6-24 resident stewards.