Our City Forest native plant garden at Martial Cottle

Urban Forestry Outdoor Classroom

$100,000

open space authority funds contributed to project

2018

project awarded

The Authority helped to fund the development and construction of an outdoor classroom and the installation of interpretive signage and trails at the Our City Forest Urban Forestry Educational Site at Martial Cottle Park in San Jose. Taken together, the classroom, signs, and trails showcase outdoor exhibits and provide facilitated and self-guided tours for the community, providing visitors a one-of-a-kind Urban Forest Education Center for learning about Santa Clara County's urban forest and its ecosystem, and how to engage in its growth, care, and protection.
Award Date:
May 9, 2018
Program:
Urban Grant Program
Location:
391 Chynoweth Ave, San Jose, CA 95136

Have a similar Project?

Learn more about our Grant Program

Enter your email address to get updates on our grant programs

Other Success
Stories

Long line of hikers walking through tall brown grass next to oak trees

Environmental Education Park Crawl

Environmental Education Park Crawl

The Authority helped fund Bay Area Older Adults’ Environmental Education Park Crawl program. The project consisted of eight, 4-hour walks in different parks and one wildlife lecture. Each two- to four-mile walk had an environmental theme that educated the participating adults age 60+ about our valley’s parks, natural resources, and urban green spaces. It also included lunch, coordination of transportation, parking fees, and three trained guides. Participants benefitted in multiple ways: safely walking outdoors in a group is critical in reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and depression, and learning about nature promotes cognitive health and reduces the risk of dementia.

Child watering garden bed with green watering can

Bill's Backyard

Bill's Backyard

The Authority helped fund the Children's Discovery Museum's new Bill's Backyard: Bridge to Nature project, which is a 27,500 square foot outdoor nature education center adjacent to the existing facility. This innovative space is inspiring children and their families to spend time outside, exploring the wonders and joys of building, exploring, climbing, rolling, digging, and getting dirty.

Two people in field of shrubs looking closely at plants

Coyote Creek BioBlitz Events

Coyote Creek BioBlitz Events

The Authority contributed funds towards a series of Bioblitz Events hosted by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful. Coyote Creek is a diverse natural area with multiple types of habitat for varied wildlife. The four BioBlitz events took place at two locations along the creek, where the public helped document animal and plant species with a simple mobile app, iNaturalist. These events aimed to attract diverse participants, including people who may spend little time in nature and can expose more people to the outdoors in a new way.