Friends of Deckers Creek Creates Green Learning Oasis

A few months ago, River Network Partner Friends of Deckers Creek (FODC) and the community of Morgantown, West Virginia celebrated the opening of their new green space and Outdoor Learning Park. Located between Deckers Creek and a major shopping center, the goals of the Park are to protect and restore the land, educate the public on environmental initiatives, be a focal point for acid mine drainage and habitat restoration and explore the use of art in the outdoor environment.

The Outdoor Learning Park was truly a community effort, with funding from the WV Commission for National and Community Service, Wal-Mart, Green Thumbs/Healthy Joints and others, and in-kind donations of trees, mulch and soil from a variety of sources including Mountaineer Treeways.

FODC's Youth Advisory Board plans to hold community workshops on planting stewardship and the significance of planting native shrubs and trees, water sampling, rainbarrels and monitoring for macroinvertebrates.

FODC received positive news coverage of the Park's dedication on the local evening news. Congratulations to Friends of Deckers Creek!