By Mollie Flowe
This spring, the TPNA worked with partner nonprofits to apply for two Duke Doing Good grants through the Duke Durham Neighborhood Partnership program.
First, TPNA partnered with the Trinity Park Foundation and with the George Watts PTA for a $2500 neighborhood grant. With TPF, we will purchase and install permanent bronze labels to describe and attribute the lovely art in our Park – the Bug Walk leading to the gazebo, the Trinity Park sign at the corner of the Park, and the curvy metal sculpture on the Trinity Avenue side. Watch for the arrival of these labels (expected by September), and know that the TPF will be working in the coming months to source financing for labels for the other art throughout the neighborhood.
With the George Watts PTA, our grant will help repair the rain gardens on the school playground. The rain gardens protect the playground and downhill areas of the neighborhood, including Ellerbe Creek, by preventing soil erosion during rainstorms, and slowing and filtering runoff. They are also beautiful and are used extensively by the general public outside of school hours. They make a great gathering spot in late afternoons and evenings, weekends, and summertime! The Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA), TPNA and the PTA will together sponsor a community workday and rain garden workshop at the playground on July 17 (rain date: July 18), with grant funds to pay for materials and some professional labor.
ECWA and TPNA together applied for a $9000 grant to enhance the Ellerbe Creek Trail and surrounding preserve land. The funds will be used for 2 small projects: 1) hiring 1-2 at-risk youth to help with community outreach, community workdays, and invasive species removal; and 2) creating a cultural interpretive display along the trail, centering the African American heritage of the area. ECWA and TPNA are working with community partners to identify storytelling opportunities along the trail.
Look for these improvements to our neighborhood coming soon, with appreciation to Duke Doing Good.
