The Charles County Resilience Authority was recently awarded two grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Watershed Assistance Grant Program for the Design and Permitting of stormwater drainage improvements and the creation of a stormwater pocket park to address stormwater flooding and provide greenspace at the Elite Gymnastics Recreation Center in Waldorf. These grants are allocated for projects to improve watershed health and resilience in Charles County.
“We greatly appreciate the CBT’s Watershed Assistance program partners, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Chesapeake Bay Program, which made these grants possible. These projects are central to our strategy for equitably enhancing the county’s resilience and environmental integrity,” said Stacy Schaefer, Resilience Authority Executive Director.
The resilience authority received a grant of $83,801 to fund the Elite Gymnastics Stormwater Pocket Park project. This “Concrete to Green” initiative will convert underused impervious surfaces into a pocket park featuring conservation landscaping, a natural play area, and a seating and picnicking space. The project was developed with the Charles County Government to address flooding and heat island effects at the center and create shaded, natural green space around the facility.
A second grant of $85,099 was awarded for the implementation of green infrastructure to address stormwater runoff and reduce flooding risks in the area. The project seeks to address several environmental justice concerns in an area with limited stormwater management features and no consistent stormwater flow direction.
The infrastructure seeks to address concerns by mimicking the natural predevelopment areas and creating features that slow runoff from precipitation and create a consistent flow direction. The features will also feature vegetation ditches that will absorb rainfall and create wildlife habitats, neighborhood beautification, and other positive features.
Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II commented on the grants, “These awards from the Chesapeake Bay Trust are a testament to Charles County’s dedication to environmental stewardship and community resilience. The Elite Gymnastics Stormwater Pocket Park and the Waldorf neighborhood projects are critical steps towards addressing our environmental challenges.”
In this round of the program, the Chesapeake Bay Trust received over $5.8 million in requests for $1.7 million in available funding.
The Charles County Resilience Authority is a nonprofit organization that responds to climate change impacts in communities across Charles County.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under assistance agreement C2-96389001 to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and/or C2-95306601 to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
