More than 50 volunteers from five member companies participated in The Conservation Alliance’s Backyard Collective stewardship event in Grand Rapids, MI, on Tuesday, August 14.
The volunteers worked in support of Grand Rapids Whitewater to remove invasive Honeysuckle from approximately two acres of Riverside Park, the city’s largest park with over two miles of Grand River Shoreline.
Over 50 storm drains were cleaned, marked and inventoried in the nearby Creston neighborhood. This important work ensures storm water makes it into the drains instead of flooding local streets and makes residents aware that the drain flows directly into the Grand River. The group worked to spread mulch and maintain one of the park’s native rain gardens. The rain gardens play a critical role in cleaning and absorbing urban stormwater runoff before it enters the Grand River.
Conservation Alliance member companies Chaco Footwear, Founders Brewing, Merrell, Moosejaw and Timberland participated in the event. Member company Clif Bar contributed bars to the event.
“On Tuesday, we saw local craft beer and outdoor gear manufacturers work with grassroots conservation organizations to make their backyard a better place–what an awesome day! It’s inspiring to see our members continue to work together for the greater good,” said Kirsten Blackburn, advocacy manager for The Conservation Alliance.
The mission of The Conservation Alliance is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. The Conservation Alliance launched the Backyard Collective Program to give member company employees in the outdoor industry the opportunity to work together on a local stewardship project while learning more about organizations that receive funding from the group.
Conservation Alliance grantees Conservation Resource Alliance, Grand Rapids Whitewater and Ohio Environmental Council joined in a Grantee Fair to share current information and call-to-action about their program.
“This was our first Backyard Collective event in Michigan, and we are impressed by the turnout and the work the group completed,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “Our Michigan-based member companies achieved their goal of coming together to make a difference in their community by completing many important stewardship projects at Grand Rapids Riverside Park.”
