{"id":13726,"date":"2021-11-19T10:05:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T15:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/currents\/?p=13726"},"modified":"2024-05-02T15:14:36","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T19:14:36","slug":"walnut-creek-wetland-community-partnership-supports-southeast-raleigh-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/currents\/2021\/11\/walnut-creek-wetland-community-partnership-supports-southeast-raleigh-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Walnut Creek Wetland Community Partnership Supports Southeast Raleigh Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"
BY CAMERON MILLER<\/strong><\/p>\n The Walnut Creek Wetland Community Partnership was born out of the desire of community members and organizations to address environmental concerns for a critical stream in Southeast Raleigh.<\/p>\n Johnny Boggs, U.S. Forest Service, teaches young people how he measures trees height and age at a \u201cTrees and You\u201d workshop hosted at Biltmore Hills Park.<\/p><\/div>\n In particular, the partnership grew out of a 2014 summit hosted by NC State University inviting people to work with the nonprofit organization Partners for Environmental Justice (PEJ)\u00a0 and community members. Since then, WCWCP has taken a holistic approach to managing the Walnut Creek wetlands through interdisciplinary projects that bring together partners to tackle issues ranging from stormwater infrastructure to new parks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about creation care.\u201d the Reverend Robert Jemonde Taylor of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church often tells visitors of the community\u2019s connections to the stream and wetland. \u201cThe environment is part of God\u2019s creation and being good stewards is our duty.\u201d<\/p>\n St. Ambrose is one of the WCWCP partners \u2014 and also served as the launching base for PEJ in 1995. That commitment over many decades continues. With help from WCWCP and financial cost share from the City of Raleigh, St. Ambrose has installed two 100-square foot rain gardens and 850-gallon rainwater cisterns on their grounds.<\/p>\n Louie Rivers, an NC State University faculty member whose work focuses on environmental justice, emphasizes the importance of long-term engagement for university partners. \u201cThe process of developing trust and working relationships with a community takes time, and WCWCP has provided a venue for this type of slow, but important engagement work.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnny Boggs demonstrates how to take a core sample from a tree.<\/p><\/div>\n From large-scale projects like park development to smaller initiatives like tree walks, WCWCP seeks to engage communities at all levels, providing tools and knowledge to aid in their advocacy.<\/p>\n Working with the community members, WCWCP is coordinated by the NC Water Resources Research Institute (a longtime close collaborator and sister program of North Carolina Sea Grant), in partnership with NC State University College of Natural Resources. In spite of the pitfalls of COVID restrictions, the partnership has accomplished a great deal in 2021. Here are a few examples.<\/p>\n The aim is to create a southern gateway into the park that incorporates the cultural history of the surrounding Biltmore Hills and Rochester Heights neighborhoods. In July, a temporary art installation by Tiffany Baker was unveiled at the Bailey Drive Gateway site. This walkable installation utilized portraits of neighbors to highlight the significance of these communities.<\/p>\n Consultant Jackie Turner worked with the park designers from Design Workshop to coordinate the unveiling event and spur community engagement.\u00a0 The process and the piece has \u201ccelebrated the original residents and builders of the community,\u201d Turner said, noting in particular the oral histories collected for the project.<\/p>\n \u201cI provide opportunities for people to tell their stories \u2014 listening is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n The temporary art installation opened on July 17.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
\nAbove: \u201cThe Reflective History\u201d art installation at the Bailey Drive Gateway site this summer \u2014 Willie Taylor Hicks (left), the woman depicted in the glass panel attends the art unveiling with the artist, Tiffany Baker (right).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
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Bailey Drive Gateway<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Watershed Learning Network<\/b><\/h2>\n