Paradise Creek: The Seven Steps of Stewardship

ParadiseCreek_TheSevenStepsofStewardship (click PDF)

Spring 2013

Team members: Maria Loughran, Kevin Muir, Beth Olberding, Heather Smith

There are currently significant efforts underway in order to mitigate prior environmental damage in Paradise Creek Nature Park and to redesign it as a healthy and sustainable natural area in a predominantly industrial and urban environment. However, protection of the Paradise Creek area and the Elizabeth River in general cannot be sustainable solely through on-site project, but rather requires that surrounding communities and business be educated and engaged in the process. Thus the Elizabeth River Project has created the Seven Steps of Stewardship and the corresponding River Star certification program for homeowners and businesses. These programs engage the community through a sense of ownership and responsibility for those not directly involved in the restoration process. This proposal seeks to take this idea of community engagement and enhance it in order to create a forum for community members to share best practices of sustainability and inform others about personal steps taken towards protecting the river. This will be achieved through a social media campaign, establishing a brand through logos, t-shirts, coloring books,and educational pamphlets, as well as an interactive on-site chalkboard. While these efforts will require an initial monetary input, they will hopefully generate a sustained dialogue within the community that will greatly increase involvement in the Stewardship program and understanding of environmentally friendly lifestyle adaptations.