Construction, environmental restoration to begin next year
A $150,000 grant as part of the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) Standards-based Ecological Restoration in Action program will be used to make a variety of structural and environmental improvements to the 12-acre Malaga Community Park.
This program provides matching funding enabling Chelan County to extend federal dollars to improve both the natural and built park environment. Park upgrades include the installation of a modern, water-efficient irrigation system; planting of shade trees and turfgrass in high recreation areas; and the removal of debris as well as the planting of native plants to restore the sagebrush-steppe plant communities that call the park home. Re-creating a native and often misunderstood sagebrush-steppe demonstration area aligned with SER’s restoration standards will provide educational opportunities. The majority of the work is planned for spring 2024, with completion expected that fall.
Located just west of the Malaga Market, the park was purchased in 2004 by the Malaga-Colockum Community Council and is maintained on a small budget with limited resources and equipment. Much of the work completed on the park, which serves a growing community of about 4,500 people, has been a result of volunteer efforts.
The grant dollars will be matched with a $160,000 contribution from Chelan County’s federal allocation of American Rescue Plan dollars. The county’s contribution will be used to build restroom facilities at the park.
“Our community is thrilled to announce that we are working with Society for Ecological Restoration and Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Development team to implement standards-based restoration along with other park improvements as part of the Malaga Community Park revitalization project. The environmental and sustainability work being done as part of the project will help build a stronger sense of community for our citizens,” said Vicki Malloy, chairwoman of the Malaga-Colockum Community Council.
The grant is part of SER’s Standards-Based Ecological Restoration in Action program to initiate high quality ecological restoration projects that benefit nature and people. A portion is going to the restoration of native sagebrush-steppe plant communities that help protect and enhance habitat for native pollinators and nesting bird species in Chelan County. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife added sagebrush steppe ecosystems as priority habitat for protection and restoration, as they are often first to be degraded/developed.
“When completed, Malaga Community Park will be transformed from an underutilized public space into a recreational and educational resource for Malaga,” said Commissioner Kevin Overbay, who represents the Malaga area. “By restoring native plant communities, we can increase wildlife viewing opportunities. Interpretive signage will educate visitors about the ecological and traditional importance of sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. And the installation of infrastructure improvements and shade trees and turf grass will create a sustainable recreational resource that meets the public’s need and supports our local vision.”
“The Chelan County, Malaga-Colockum Community Council and community members have already dedicated countless hours to developing and maintaining this park. This collaboratively funded project recognizes that dedication with additional funding for work that can’t be completed by volunteers, while also continuing to promote the community volunteers, as well as Microsoft employees, to get their hands dirty restoring a small patch of the native plant community that previously dominated their backyard. Microsoft’s commitment to standards-based restoration shows they take sustainability seriously,” said SER Executive Director Bethanie Walder.
“Microsoft is proud to collaborate with Society and Ecological Restoration to deliver standards-based ecological restoration with Chelan County and the Malaga-Colockum Community Council in Malaga,” said Holly Beale, Senior Program Manager for Microsoft. “We are excited to help implement restoration solutions on the ground that benefit both nature and people. This project aims to transform the current park into a community resource in support of our commitment to support the environmental health of the communities we work in.”
The park improvement project is being led by Chelan County Natural Resources.
The Society for Ecological Restoration works to ensure that ecological restoration is recognized and utilized as a fundamental component of global conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable development programs, and that ecological restoration projects are designed and implemented in a way that provides people with the opportunity to not only repair ecological damage, but also improve the human condition. Learn more about its work and get involved in the network.
Last Updated: 07/17/2023 04:15 PM
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