Outdoor recreational areas provide communities with a place to congregate and enjoy nature. This page will show what communities can gain by investing in green space to improve and revitalize their towns. Vacant spaces have a lot of potential, with a little work from residents they can be a monument to togetherness and point of pride in a community.

Example

The Center for Rural Affairs has created the Siouxland Community Garden Project not only to provide a resource for education but to build community relationships and beautify the area.

The South Sioux City Community Garden has two locations, both on city property. The Bryan School site is located at the corner of 32nd St. & Dakota Ave. The second garden location is 216 W. 22nd St., next to the South Sioux City Library. The Corazones Alegres Senior Citizens Club has adopted the project, and many of the 22nd Street plots are in use by its members.

The City of South Sioux City has provided tilling services and the use of onsite water facilities in exchange for maintenance of the City Parks’ flowerbeds. “Weeding parties” are being scheduled for Tuesday afternoons; gardeners will team up to weed the flowerbeds.

The system in place in the Siouxland Community Garden Project strengthens relationships between citizens and the city. When citizens band together this way both flowers and pride can blossom in communites.

Common Types of Recreational Areas

• Parks, Playgrounds and Pools
• Community Gardens
• Hike/Bike Trails
• Camping Areas

Benefits of Recreational Areas

• Recreational areas increase beauty in the community. By converting vacant land or simply updating existing areas, rural communities can create a beautiful and inviting space for everyone.
• Recreational areas increase access to physical activity. Increasing access to physical activity will have positive effects on the health of rural communities.
• Recreational areas provide a place to congregate and strengthen community ties
• Recreational area projects involve the community in positive change

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

In addition to attracting more tourism to a community with a new look, community greening offers a myriad of opportunities for communities. Design, landscaping and similar enterprises will become growth industries. When a community commits to beautification opportunities abound.

Programs

Transportation Enhancement Activities offer funding opportunities to help expand transportation choices and enhance the transportation experience through predetermined activities related to surface transportation, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and safety programs, scenic and historic highway programs, landscaping and scenic beautification, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation.Examples of eligible activities include: pedestrian and bike trails, scenic or historic highway programs, beautification and landscaping.

Check for programs and grants available in your state or local area.

Learn More

For more information on Community Greening contact Wyatt Fraas at wyattf@cfra.org or 402-254-6893.