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Project Details
Created:
04/08/2009
Project Title:
Little River Park Restoration
Project Category:
Environment
Project Status:
Proposal
CASE Competition
CASE Competition:
East Wake Academy - EWA - Winter 2009
Grant Winner
Project Snapshot
Problem: Biology education requires classroom and laboratory experiences, but in Zebulon, NC, there is no venue to study and apply the principles of biology in a natural setting.
Solution: This project brings the high school biology curriculum to life. First, Wake County Soil and Water Conservation staff and NC Big Sweep, a statewide environmental nonprofit, will join with students from East Wake Academy to restore and improve the Little River Park in Zebulon with environmental educational stations and improved recreational facilities. Then, the project will establish a North Carolina-specific watershed education component within East Wake Academy’s Biology curriculum. Finally, the renewed park and curriculum will be combined as a resource for environmental research, school events, field trips, and technology training for high school students throughout the area.
Student Information
College or University:
East Wake Academy High School
State:
North Carolina
Student Name:
Kenny Collie
Year in College:
Junior in High School
Major:
High School Student
Faculty Advisor
Advisor Name:
Crystal Cockrell
Community Partner
Partner Name:
Wake County Water and Soil Conservation/ NC Big Sweep
Student and Community
What societal problem does your project solve?
The proposed project will offer some solution to the growing recreational and environmental education needs in eastern Wake County. By using a previously established park, recruiting a community partner and local volunteers, conducting an initial environmental education session and watershed clean up, this project will revitalize public access and use of Little River Park. This proposal will bring the High School Biology curriculum to life through my fellow classmates and out into our community.What would be the measurable outcomes of the partnership that you propose to create between the community and your educational institution?
The measurable outcomes of a partnership between Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, NC Big Sweep and East Wake Academy will include a permanent addition of an NC watershed education curriculum to the East Wake Academy Biology curriculum. Currently the students learn about the protection of the environment but do not have a hands on activity that would allow them to relate their classroom knowledge to their community. East Wake Academy will also use the Little River Park as a resource for environmental research, school events, field trips, and technology training. A partnership between Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, NC Big Sweep, and East Wake Academy will create a foundation for community environmental learning.How would you, with the support of your faculty advisor on campus and some one from the community, work together around this specified community issue?
I will work together with East Wake Academy clubs, NC Big Sweep, Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, Mrs. Cockrell and the town of Zebulon to clean up the park and its direct watershed areas. Next, we will provide positive education regarding urbanization and pollution to give the community pride in its recreational areas and the initiative to restore the park. Together, we will then create new park environmental educational stations, a reconditioned play area, cooking grills, picnic areas, and fishing stations. During this procedure we will establish long-term relationships between our school, town and surrounding community.How would you envision sharing power and decision making in the partnership? In other words, instead of doing something for the community how would you do something with the community?
We will collaborate efforts with Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, NC Big Sweep, the Town of Zebulon, and East Wake Academy. The Town of Zebulon, being the property owner will ultimately make final decisions regarding any changes that we propose to make to the park. Wake County Soil and Water Conservation and NC Big Sweep will provide maps, educational materials, clean up supplies, and data gathering worksheets for the park and surrounding watershed clean up efforts. They would also be instrumental in the design and construction of environmental education stations. I will work with East Wake Academy staff and students to recruit volunteers and plan events.How would you collect data on what the project was doing and use it in the decision making process?
Initially, we will conduct a complete survey of Little River Park to include what is there now, test the water quality, and assess the wildlife living in and around the park. As the project progresses, we will gather clean up data, survey the community regarding their recreational and environmental educational needs, assess the current use of Little River Park, and finally report all data to Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, NC Big Sweep, the Town of Zebulon, and the East Wake Academy participants.What would be the project activities? Give examples of how the strengths already existing in the community will be acknowledged, built upon, and enhanced in the partnership to solve the problem.
The initial steps of this proposed project will include organizing and hosting a meeting between my faculty advisor, Wake County Soil and Water Conservation, North Carolina Big Sweep, the Town of Zebulon and myself. At this meeting, we will look at existing maps of the site to assess what areas we seek to enhance and/ or restore. The non-profit community partners will evaluate the watershed area for the initial clean-up and litter data collection. The Town of Zebulon will contribute their historical and legal knowledge of the park as a guide to implementing the project. Together, we will develop an overall strategy for the next steps in the Little River Park Restoration project.What obstacles or challenges might you encounter in implementing your project, and how would you address them?
Obstacles to implementing our proposal include the ever changing water levels and weather conditions of the park, obtaining approval from the Town of Zebulon for park changes, communication within the Zebulon governmental agencies, maintenance of water quality for wildlife, monetary needs for larger priced items, and recruitment of volunteers. To address each of the varying obstacles, I will assess local weather forecasts, communicate freely with the Town of Zebulon and be open to their suggestions to enhance our project, inquire of local regulations and schedules regarding reservior water quality measurements, keep detailed budget and purchase receipts, inquire regarding local town budget allowances, and campaign both in our school and community to recruit many volunteers.
Recruiting Volunteers:
Would you recruit additional student volunteers? If so, how?
Enlisting Partners:
Do you envision enlisting businesses, or other organizations, etc., to help; if so, how?
How would the award money be used here?
If your project idea is an innovation of an existing
program, what are its current funding sources?
What do you anticipate learning from engaging in the service project?
I anticipate learning much about grant writing and implementation, project management, and working cohesively with local government. I envision learning much about the improvement and stabilization of the park environment, water quality assessment and management, and about what academic service learning can bring to education and the Eastern Wake County community.If the above questions have not enabled you to convey the essence and value of your project’s impact, use this space to supplement your answers.
Please submit an abstract (clear summary) of your proposed project idea.
This project proposal seeks to restore the Zebulon Little River Park as a place where the local community can learn about the environment and enjoy the outdoors inside the city limits of their town. We will join together with Wake County Soil and Water Conservation and North Carolina Big Sweep to educate volunteers and the local community about their watershed and the effects caused downstream. The project seeks to restore a valuable park for the enjoyment and education of local residents, schools, and businesses.User Login
