Fairfax County Park Foundation Inc

PROJECTS CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED THROUGH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF: IDENTIFYING, CONSERVING, RESTORING, AND INTERPRETING NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED IDENTIFYING AND UTILIZING THE COLLECTIVE RESOURCES SITES FOR ENHANCING PUBLIC EDUCATION OF AND ACCESS TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY LINKING SITES WITH TRAILS, TOUR ROADS, SCENIC BYWAYS, AND OTHER CONNECTIONS DEVELOPING AND ESTABLISHING WATERTRAILS COMPRISING WATER ROUTES AND CONNECTIONS TO SITES AND OTHER LAND RESOURCES WITHIN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED AND CREATING A NETWORK OF SITES AND WATERTRAILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO BRING NATURE EXPLORATION STRAIGHT TO THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. FAIRFAX COUNTY PARK AUTHORITY WILL ENHANCE CURRENT PROGRAMMING BY ACTIVATING THE EXPLORATION OF NATURE IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE WHERE THEY ARE. THANKS TO SOLID PARTNERSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS, THE TEAM WILL SEEK INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE TAILORED NATURE PROGRAMMING. ONCE CREATED, MEMBERS OF THE WILD OUTDOOR NATURE DISCOVERY EVERYWHERE REVEALED (WONDER) WAGON TEAM WILL ACQUIRE A VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES, TO MEET THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHERE THEY ARE - COMMUNITY CENTERS, EVENTS, UNSTAFFED PARKS AND TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. THROUGH THESE ACTIVATIONS, PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL FEEL A STRONGER CONNECTION TO THE NATURE THAT IS AROUND THEM WHERE THEY LIVE AND PLAY. THIS EFFORT WILL PROMOTE EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY REMOVING THE BARRIER OF ACCESSIBILITY AND WILL RESULT IN A DEEPER CONNECTION TO NATURE. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, STATES AND OR THEIR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.