As part of the Great Urban Parks Campaign, Heartland Conservation Alliance received a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association. This campaign created green infrastructure in the nation’s parks to build healthy, vibrant, and climate resilient communities. With the grant funds HCA hired Habitat Architects to improve the natural infrastructure in Blue Valley Park by capturing stormwater and providing for other local ecosystem services. Habitat Architects and other volunteers cleared bush honeysuckle around the oxbow lake and planted 5.5 acres of prairie.
In August Habitat Architects and Kansas City Parks began construction on a wetland at Blue Valley Park. They dug out and leveled off an old pond basin and used two earthmoving machines to remove soil and create a basin to capture storm water. Stephen Van Rhein explained in addition to capturing storm water, we are creating a wetland habitat and attracting wetland species to the area.
Habitat Architects and Kansas City Parks begin construction on a wetland basin in hopes of attracting native species. Photo by Adison Banks.
On August 12 HCA presented the 2019 Blue River Report Card to Kansas City, Missouri’s Environmental Management Commission. The presentation highlighted the Report Card indicators that received the lowest grades in the watershed. The presentation focused on a call to action, outlining what commissioners as well as all of us can do to improve the grades.
The Conservation Work Group’s next meeting is on September 17, from 4:00 to 5:30pm.
The Policy Work Group’s next meeting is on September 25, from 3:00 to 4:30pm.
If you would like to join the Conservation Work Group or the Policy Work Group, or you have questions about HCA’s Conservation Program, please contact Adison Banks, HCA’s Land Trust Coordinator, at adison@heartlandconservationalliance.org.