Visioning Expanded Native Habitat in Greenfield Library parking lot

Greening Greenfield and Youth Climate Action Franklin County (YCAFC) invited everyone to brainstorm how to beautify and expand native habitat in the new Greenfield Library Parking lot at the Library.

After meeting with city officials in April 2024, a plan of what to plant underneath the trees surrounding the lot is being proposed and created using community input. After the plan is approved, Greening Greenfield plans to engage youth and other community members through Peter Wackernagel’s YCAFC program to install and care for the new plantings over the next 3-5 years while the plants are getting established.

“We are excited to be working with Peter who has a landscape architecture degree and track record of working with area youth,” said Nancy Hazard of Greening Greenfield. ”We are also excited to be collaborating with the Library Foundation for this opportunity to enhance native habitat supporting biodiversity and helping restore our climate in such an important and visible downtown area.”

After a short introduction to the project, Wackernagel shared and discussed photographs of parking lot plantings in other communities. The group then proceeded outside to share ideas for each area of the parking lot with a special focus on the island and the space under the birch trees near Greenfield Savings Bank.

Funding for this landscaping project is supported by Greening Greenfield and the Greenfield Public Library Foundation.

For more information about Greening Greenfield, and how to join their efforts to restore our climate and build community through Housing Greenfield and youth programs go to www.GreeningGreenfieldMA.org.