Blacksburg Receives Environmental Grant

The Town of Blacksburg is pleased to announce that the Virginia Environmental Endowment has awarded $232,335 to the Town to pursue a major ecological restoration project in Heritage Park.

The project will take approximately two years to complete and will focus on removing invasive plants from both sides of Toms Creek within Heritage Park, re-establishing a diverse mix of native trees and shrubs in the riparian area, and developing a long-term stewardship plan for the park.

The project will also involve extensive outreach to increase the public’s understanding of the impact of invasive species on natural landscapes and the value of re-establishing native plant communities to better support native and migratory wildlife.

“This grant will allow the Town to be proactive in combating the invasive plant issue in the Heritage Park,” offered Director of Parks and Recreation Dean Crane. “This will help restore the diversity of tree species that will enhance the beauty of the park and help improve the quality of the Toms Creek stream that runs through the park.”

This funding will allow the Town to add 17 additional acres to a 2-acre pilot restoration project already underway in Heritage Park, made possible by a partnership with the New River Conservancy.

“Addressing invasive species can feel like an overwhelming endeavor,” said Sustainability Manager Carol Davis. “This new funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment allows us to tackle the challenge in a meaningful, sustained way and puts us on a path to improving ecological integrity and biodiversity in Heritage Park.”

Throughout the project’s implementation, there will be numerous opportunities for the public to get involved via on-site workshops and volunteer opportunities. For those who would like to stay informed of future service projects or other events related to this project, please sign up here.