THE LEAFLET

For over two decades, we have worked diligently to get more trees into the ground while proposing and supporting legislation that protects mature trees with healthy canopies. As Casey Trees evolved to meet the demands of a growing city and a changing climate, our programmatic focus had to expand to protect the valuable green spaces that can support large tree canopy growth now and decades into the future.

For the third year in a row, DC has been rated as having the best urban park system in the country according to the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore, which ranks the 100 most populous US cities by comparing five park categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. While this may be true for most neighborhoods, it is not the case for all District residents, especially communities East of the River.

When we were granted a conservation easement in 2018 through DC’s Vacant to Vibrant program along Buena Vista Terrace in Southeast, the road ahead seemed long- lot lines were obscured by a tangled blanket of invasive vines and access to the site was limited.

Dee Dwyer/DCist/WAMU

“We don’t have no place to meet, play, or do anything,” said long-time Buena Vista Resident, Mynikka Posey in a 2021 interview with DCist about new park opportunities in the neighborhood. “I feel like that’s the missing piece from ‘community’ and uniting one another. More violence is going on because we don’t have that medium piece where people can connect, to even think… Most people don’t even have something to eat here.”

Robert Butler, another long-term resident supporting Posey’s efforts to provide the community with quality green spaces, felt a strong sense of responsibility as an older member of the community to provide something to the kids around him that he went without. Robert now supports the easement at Buena Vista Terrace as a community catalyst, stewarding the creation and maintenance of this meaningful green space.

After performing an initial round of invasive management with grants provided by the Jewett Foundation and seeing the promise of the property for the first time, we knew we had to continue that momentum and discover what more could be possible.

Nature Sacred greenspaces are intentionally designed to foster reflection, respite, and renewal, and we have already heard from community members that they’d like to see a memorial space to remember lives lost within the neighborhood.

Nature Sacred will fund a landscape architect to create a design for the space, informed by and engaging the community through multiple workshops. They are also providing implementation funding and a signature Nature Sacred bench. Nature Sacred has previously funded Crispus Attucks Park (our first-ever conservation easement) and many pocket parks around the metro region.

In other exciting conservation news, Casey Trees is applying for Accreditation this year through the Land Trust Alliance to further our commitment to meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.

Each accredited land trust completes a rigorous review process and joins a network of organizations united by strong ethical practices. A public comment period is now open; follow this link to learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment. We look forward to continuing our commitment to land conservation and preserving, restoring, and protecting DC’s green spaces!