The National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Program (NPS Chesapeake Gateways) announced the award of 22 grants totaling nearly $2.3 million, including $150,000 for Handsell Historic Site, a past Heritage Fund recipient and Best of Maryland winner. NPS Chesapeake Gateways offers competitive grant opportunities to advance the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 within the full 41-million-acre Chesapeake Bay watershed.

AWARDED PROJECTS:

EXPANDING ACCESS TO BLACK AND INDIGENOUS NARRATIVES OF THE POTOMAC

$47,731 – Building on previous work to recognize and interpret the significance of the Piscataway Park landscape to the Piscataway people, the Accokeek Foundation Inc. will curate a collection of oral histories focusing on BIPOC fishing industry workers to create effective interpretive materials. Read more

SPRINGFIELD WOODS LOCAL LEADER LEGACIES

$150,000 – Baltimore Green Space’s project will honor community member Butch Berry’s vision, which included telling stories of the people whose lives were enriched by the forest and the rich Black history of the neighborhood. Read more

FOUR MILE RUN ALL-ABILITY WATER ACCESS POINT

$106,885 – Located in an under-utilized portion of Four Mile Run Park, Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation’s project will help meet the growing need for healthy recreation opportunities in Alexandria. Read more

SEEING IS BELIEVING – LINKING 5TH GRADE HAMPTON CITY STUDENTS WITH LOCAL CULTURE AND NATURE THROUGH OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

$149,520 – James River Association’s project advances a curriculum which connects 5th grade students and teachers in 21 elementary schools with nature and culture, through a professional development session, in-class lessons and hands-on field experiences, and community environmental days. Read more

DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE PARKS MASTER PLAN FOR MOULTON PARK

$109,621 – Jefferson County Parks & Recreation Commission’s project supports development of a comprehensive master plan for the park and its recent 82-acre expansion. Read more

CONNECTING THE PUBLIC TO RAPPAHANNOCK TRIBAL HISTORY AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES

$147,807 – Through this project the Rappahannock Tribe will restore the lodge building (Lodge) at the Cat Point Creek unit of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge and create an Indigenous Environmental Education Center, bringing together Rappahannock Tribal citizens and non-native people for environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities. Read more

SUSQUEHANNA DISCOVERY CENTER & HERITAGE PARK – MASTER PLAN & INTERPRETIVE FRAMEWORK

$150,000 – Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s project unites land conservation, historic preservation, inclusive storytelling, heritage tourism, and economic development on one landscape in the Susquehanna/Chesapeake watershed. Read more

WEEDS TO WOODS NATURALLY URBAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

$150,000 – Through Backyard Basecamp, Inc.’s program, 16 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) youth will gain experience for access to green careers, learn about Maryland’s ecological history, develop facilitation and life skills, and earn certifications in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. Read more

BALTIMORE TREE TRUST AND BALTIMORE PEACE MOVEMENT’S MEMORIAL TREE PLANTINGS

$49,852 – Baltimore Tree Trust, Inc.’s project will interview the 28 families, and stories will be available via a QR code on each tree as well as reflected through local artwork. Read more

ENLACE: ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING LATINO YOUTH THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATION

$125,517 – EcoLatinos, Inc.’s project enlaces Latino youth in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties to their communities, to the greater environmental movement, and to future educational and career opportunities through a year-round, summer and after school program. Read more

THREE CULTURES CENTER AT HANDSELL HISTORIC SITE

$150,000 – Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance’s project will utilize existing historic structures and support the development of a new Three Cultures Center, in the style of a 19th century barn, with facilities for programming and events, ADA accessible restrooms, and storage. Read more

THE WONDER WAGON: A MOBILE NATURE CENTER FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY

$45,798 – Fairfax County Park Foundation’s project will enhance current programming and allow the Wonder Wagon team to acquire a vehicle, equipment, and supplies, to meet Fairfax County community members where they are – community centers, events, unstaffed parks, and title one schools. Read more

DIVERSIFYING VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED

$147,565 – The Friends of the National Arboretum’s project will connect with diverse local communities and support several activities, including the following: hiring a volunteer/community outreach manager; meetings with community organizations to identify best practices in community engagement, recruiting, and training volunteers; family fishing evenings with Anacostia Riverkeeper; and a best practices volunteer on-boarding program. Read more

MARINERS’ LAKE ACCESS INITIATIVE

$147,884 – The Mariners’ Museum’s project will support the re-opening of the lake for education, enrichment, and recreation – restoring and expanding access to on-the-water educational and recreational activities. Read more

NATIONAL PARK TRUST AND BOWIE STATE COLLEGE AMBASSADORS EXPLORE THE CHESAPEAKE GATEWAY REGION

$35,000 – The National Park Trust’s project provides an innovative, interdisciplinary learning experience for Bowie State students who will visit more than a dozen natural and historic sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed during a 10-day, 700+-mile trip as part of a field course centered around African American and Black History in the Chesapeake Region. Read more

KINGMAN RANGERS INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM

$50,000 – The Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region’s project will increase engagement and equitable access to this area for audiences of all ages—especially Black communities east of the Anacostia—through education, recreation, outreach, and special community programming and events. Read more

BI-LINGUAL RANGER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PILOT PROJECT

$150,000 – Baltimore County’s project will support a new Spanish-speaking Park Ranger at Marshy Point Nature Center and Loch Raven Fishing Center during the peak season of May – August. Read more

GREEN MUSLIMS ODIG! FOR ADULTS: OUR DEEN IS GREEN! MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EDUCATION EXPERIENCE (MWEE) FOR GROWNUPS

$35,000 – Building upon the Our Deen (Faith) is Green! youth outdoor education program, this Green Muslims’ project will take adults into nature. Read more

LIVING ON THE EDGE: UNCOVERING AND SHARING THE STORIES OF BULL RUN MOUNTAIN’S DIVERSELY PEOPLED PAST

$77,000 – The Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s project will allow staff and researchers to uncover more information about the Bull Run families; to engage with a more diverse public via guided hikes, social media and blog posts about the Black and African American history of the Preserve; and cement this research in a publicly accessible format. Read more

DISCOVERING DIVERSITY TO ADVANCE INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND EQUITY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

$49,976 – The City of Charlottesville’s project will provide a creative, collaborative process that encourages input from many community partners connected to marginalized populations to develop accurate data for Charlottesville. Read more

ACCESS TO ACTION: ENGAGING THE LATINO COMMUNITY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED

$149,975 – Defensores de la Cuenca’s project will create opportunities for Spanish dominant people to have positive experiences in new spaces and places throughout the greater Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. areas. Read more

USING EDNA AND STORYTELLING TO UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL HISTORIES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

$142,500 – Black in Marine Science’s project will work with Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation (BOCF) to use environmental DNA (eDNA) to bridge social and environmental knowledge throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Read more