Green Space Coalition History

Summer 2003:

Green Space Coalition undertakes "Revisioning" process.  Continues in year 3 of constructing Learning Trails.  Produces comprehensive $7 million trail, bicycle, pedestrian and bridge plan for Greater Morgantown.

Summer 2002 and on:

Green Space Coalition facilitates design stage of bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Don Knotts Blvd, working with USDA Forest Service Wood in Transportation Program. Preliminary design completed. Construction funding being sought.

Summer 2002 and on:

Green Space Coalition supports Morgantown Parks (BOPARC) and the Greater Morgantown Community Trust in the acquisition of a new park: Dorsey's Knob Park.

Summer and Fall 2002:

Construction of the Learning Trails continues in Year 2 of grant from the National Corporation for Community Service.

May 2002:

Fifth Annual Green Space Summit. Students from South win two of eight national awards in the River of Words competition, coordinated in West Virginia by the GSC. Keynote speaker: Author and illustrator of nature books for children and adults, Sheri Amsel. Focus of the summit is on children.

October 2001:

Elimination Dinner Fund Raiser at the Pines. Coordinated with WVU School of Journalism and WVU Service Learning with funding from the Kellogg Foundation.

Summer and Fall 2001:

GSC contracts to build Learning Trails at South Middle School, on a grant from the Corporation for National Service. Two miles of accessible trail roughed in.

March 2001:

Fourth Annual Green Space Summit.

 Keynote speaker: Dr. Timothy Beatley, author of Green Urbanism: Lessons from European Cities.

Sept./Oct. 2000

Helped build Woodburn Elementary School Wellness Trail.

September 2000:

Awarded a Benedum Foundation grant, in partnership with the Mon River Trails Conservancy, to establish a Tri-County Parks and Trails Center for Marion, Monongaleha, and Preston Counties.

Summer 2000:

Major work on trails and bridges in Whitemoore Park completed. Focus shifts to bridges in White Park, started by Friends of White Park Woodlands in 1998.

March 2000:

State-wide Conference "Building Coalitions to Revitalize Community Green Space." 150 attendees.

 Keynote speaker: Thomas Hylton, winner of Pulitzer Prize for books on Smart Growth.

April 1999:

Third Annual Green Space Summit, at Marilla Park Center.

April 1999:

Trash Bash!!

June 1998:

National Trails Day event to raise money for Mon River Trails Conservancy, Friends of Deckers Creek, and Green Space Coalition.

Summer 1998:

GSC cooperates with the WV Transportation Technology Transfer Center to prepare detailed recommendations on improving walking and biking in Morgantown.

April 1998:

March for Parks to raise money for work in Whitemoore Park.

April 1998:

Trash Bash!!

April 1998:

Second Annual Green Space Summit, at Wiles Hill School.

 Keynote speaker: Ken Carvell, on the Vision of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the need to renew it.

Spring 1998:

Work begins on Forest Avenue Trail in Whitemoore Park. Hired crew joins the volunteers.

Winter 1998:

Morgantown Tree Board forms from the GSC Urban Forestry Working Group.

Summer 1997:

Trash clean-up ends in Whitemoore Park, trail construction begins on Woodburn Trail.

June 1997:

Preliminary report of Walk/Bike Morgantown!! presented to City Council.

April 1997:

Walk/Bike Morgantown!! Public participation event and survey, for the improvement of walking and biking. Major participation!

April 1997:

Trash Bash!!

Spring 1997:

Mapping of "Greenspace Opportunities" in Morgantown. Unveiling of the poster "Morgantown: A Greener Vision."

Jan. 1997:

First Annual Green Space Spring Summit, at Marilla Park Center.

 Keynote speaker: Kent Spellman, WV Rails-to-Trails Council.

October 1996:

Coalition begins "Two-hour Outings" to visit local greenspaces.

June 1996:

Rally for Greenspace! A National Trails Day fundraiser for the Coalition's work in Whitemoore Park.

Summer 1996:

GSC and BOPARC begin the restoration of Whitemoore Park, Morgantown's oldest park.

Summer 1996:

Coalition recognized as a Charitable Organization (501-c-3) by the IRS.

April 1996:

Coalition organizes Earth Day Event "Preserving Green Space." Speakers were Dale Colyers (WVU College of Agriculture and Forestry), Steve Hollenhorst (WV Land Trust), and Harvard Ayres (North Carolina Sierra Club).

April 1996:

Coalition members help build the Nature Trail at Cheat Lake Elementary School.

April 1996:

Trash Bash!!

Summer 1995:

Coalition incorporates as a WV Non-Profit Corporation.

April 1995:

Coalition members and WVU Student Sierra Coalition organize March-for-Parks to raise money for an Accessible Trail and Overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest.

April 1995:

Many "Coalition" members help organize WVU Earth Day events. George Constantz speaks on conservation in West Virginia.

April 1995:

Trash Bash!!

March 1995:

First meeting of representatives from about 20 local organizations thinking of a coalition to preserve local greenspace.