Description
The City of Bay Springs Mississippi is "Some Place Special" with Gazebos, water fountains and floral gardens located throughout the city. Originally settled in the late 1800s for the timber, it was officially registered as the City of Bay Springs in 1904 due to Rail Road construction. The name derives from the beauty of the Bay Trees that flourished in the city and for the natural Artesian Springs flowing from the trunks of the trees. Today, the city gazebo stands where the Bay Trees were, with the same historical Artesian Springs flowing from a fountain. Surrounding the gazebo are several botanical rose gardens. The City of Bay Springs is known for its gardens and beauty, and also hosts several annual events which attract both locals and visitors alike. Bay Fest is an annual event, usually the last weekend in May, which lasts for three days with entertainment, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and food vendors. More recently, the Hammerhead 500 draws a large crowd of spectators who gather to watch participants of all ages race from atop the old brick street downtown in handmade or sponsored derby cars. Sponsored by the Bay Springs Chamber of Commerce and supported by local businesses, the Hammerhead 500 has grown to be a highly anticipated occasion with spectacular prizes and a fun atmosphere. There is also the annual Fourth of July Glow 5k Fun run hosted by the Bay Springs Medical Clinic to benefit the Seth Harris Childhood Cancer Foundation. Other attractions to Bay Springs are the many worship venues and restaurants with food ranging from good old fashioned southern cooking to Mexican. The City is proud of the three major parks located in Bay Springs - Smith Park, NECO Park and City Hall Park. Many events are held at Smith Park which displays a lovely water fountain surrounded by flowers and also has a stage for outdoor concerts. NECO Park has a splash pad, walking track and play ground for all to enjoy. The City Hall Park is one of the oldest parks canopied by large Pine and Oak trees. Here, you will enjoy a play ground, walking area, gazebo, and newly planted butterfly gardens. The Bay Springs Monarch Fiesta Project has three of the four butterfly gardens located at The City Hall Park.
Description
Oakland County is located in southeastern Michigan and is approximately 25 miles northwest of Downtown Detroit. It is the second most populous county in Michigan and 33rd in the entire United States. Oakland County is comprised of 61 cities, townships and villages. The County is marked by extreme diversity in income, with some of the highest and lowest ranking incomes per capita in the country. The County is also diverse in land use and development, with both urban centers and rural townships. The rolling hills and flatlands are part of the Great Lakes ecosystem, featuring the headwaters of five major rivers, as well as over 1,400 lakes and many smaller wetlands and ponds. A recent natural features inventory identified 66 sites of high quality native vegetation. The County is also home to the first non-motorized Rail-to-Trail in the State of Michigan, and is dedicated to the development of a high quality trail system. Our Wildlife Habitats Oakland (WHO) team has a vision to create a contiguous network of backyard wildlife habitats in schools, private residences, businesses, and municipal lands. WHO is comprised of individuals representing a wide variety of organizations and interests. The team includes members from the consolidated school district, watershed council, land conservancy, nature center, the nationally recognized Detroit Zoo, and several County Government departments including Planning and Parks.
Description
McAllen, nicknamed “City of Palms”, is a bustling city at the southern tip of Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). Because of its geographical location –Gulf Coast to the east, Chihuahuan desert to the west, temperate zone to the north, and proximity to the tropics in the south– the LRGV has an extraordinary amount of biodiversity. The region is also in the migratory path of Monarch butterflies and birds following the Central flyway. For many tropical birds and butterflies, the LRGV is their northern-most range. McAllen is home to Quinta Mazatlan, one of the wings of the World Birding Center, and the McAllen Nature Center; both of which are magnets for birds, butterflies, and nature lovers. Birders from all over the world come to the area. McAllen’s citizens and its leaders understand the importance of preserving natural habitat for wildlife and for the enjoyment of future generations.
Description
Collingswood is a historic town located 5 miles outside of Philadelphia. Known for its eclectic downtown, BYO restaurant scene, farmer’s market, and eco-conscious, creative community, the town has undergone a major revitalization over the past two decades. It’s been named a “Top 10 Transformed Neighborhood” by Forbes, the “Best Place to Go Car Free” by Men’s Journal, and a “Great Place in America” by the American Planning Association. This small town has three public parks, including Knight Park, which stretches out over more than 60 acres and is a prime location for habitat restoration. The Collingswood Community Wildlife Team includes members of the Collingswood Green Team.
Description
Haig Point is a charming sea island community located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah. Daufuskie Island is the southernmost Sea Island in South Carolina. There is no bridge to the Island. Residents and guests drive electric golf carts to the eclectic points of interest in and around the Island. It is five miles long by almost three miles wide – approximately 5,000 acres. With over three miles of pristine beachfront, Daufuskie is surrounded by the waters of Calibogue Sound, Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean. Haig Point is located at the northern tip of the island.
Description
A planned residential and resort community, Central Oregon’s Sunriver is located near the base of the majestic Cascade mountain range and is bordered by acres of national forest, the distinguished Deschutes River, and dramatic basalt lava flows. Designed to coexist with the natural environment, Sunriver’s 3,300 acres (approximately 5 square miles) includes 4,200 private homesites, recreational amenities – including three parks and 33 miles of pathways, concentrated commercial development, the Sunriver Nature Center, Oregon Observatory, and Sunriver Resort. The community enjoys natural attributes rarely found in any development which are protected by strict environmental and architectural standards. Sunriver’s healthy and vigorous river, riparian, wetland, meadow, and forest environments provide critical habitat for native and migrating wildlife; including elk, deer, coyote, mountain lion, bear, otter, beaver, porcupine, turkey, raccoon, rabbits, skunks and other rodents, raptors, songbirds and waterfowl, bats, fish and amphibians, including the endangered Oregon spotted frog. In forested areas, towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine provide canopy above wax currant, Oregon grape, bitterbrush, manzanita, and rabbitbrush, while native grasses and wildflowers such as purple aster, lupine, iris, and wild lilies dot the forest floor. Quaking aspen, willow, sedges, rushes, cattails, and pond lilies are found along Sunriver’s rivers, streams, and transitional areas. Grasslands and pastures complete Sunriver’s meadow mosaic. With a long history of environmental stewardship, Sunriver has the distinction of being a Tree City USA since 1980. It has been a nationally certified Firewise Community since 2012. Sunriver is managed by the Sunriver Owners Association. Additional information is available at www.sunriverowners.org.
Description
Cheyenne is located in Laramie County in the Southeastern corner in Wyoming. Average precipitation in this part of the state is 15” to 16” per year. Our Community Habitat area is in an urban neighborhood located west/northwest of Cheyenne’s core downtown and is in the area known as The West Edge District. In this part of the city, the majority of storm water run-off is directed to underground pipes where the water and its contaminants are flushed directly into Crow Creek, which borders the western edge of the project area. This Community Habitat project is the first in the state of Wyoming. We hope it will illustrate how creative landscaping (i.e. utilizing native plantings, rain gardens etc.) can increase wildlife habitat, while decreasing storm-water run-off flowing into the Crow Creek, and decreasing the need for supplemental irrigation.
Description
Opened in 2000, Kendal at Lexington is a non-profit LifePlan Community. The campus sits on 85 acres of rolling farmland on the outskirts of Lexington. It is bordered by both residential neighborhoods and working farmland. Independent Kendal residents live in cottages, cluster cottages, and apartments within the main building. Construction on an additional 30 cottages is slated to begin in approximately 1-2 years, which will welcome many new residents to our very active and involved community. Residents enjoy panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and campus walking trails, which meander through open meadows, along hedgerows, through a wooded area, and along a stream, affording us close-up views of the neighboring farmland and resident wildlife. As we look to the future, we look forward to making sure that our community strives to keep its rural character in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Description
Miramar Community Garden located at Fairway Park, is the first demonstration “micro farming system” in Broward County; an environmentally and economically sustainable system that creates a network of healthy food sources of naturally grown vegetables and fruits, a social network for garden volunteers to learn about the urban agricultural industry and the opportunity for vocational training. Please visit our website at https://www.miramarfl.gov/501/Community-Garden
Description
The greater Zionsville community consists of the town of Zionsville and rural Zionsville, which together form the Zionsville School Corporation. The project was led by a group called Habitat Creation, Preservation and Restoration, otherwise known as Habitat CPR. Their goal is to encourage residents to restore wildlife habitats throughout the community. The group is currently focusing on pollinator habitat restoration. At the time Zionsville was certified, the community had 83 certified backyards, 3 schools, and 8 workplaces and municipal areas, including the local Chamber of Commerce. Zionsville was the 2nd certified Community Habitat in the United States. When Zionsville was certified in 2000 the population was 13000. The 2022 census recorded a population of 30,603.
