Good Dirt

The Aquidneck Land Trust announced today the 2008 recipients of its Merritt Neighborhood Fund grants. This year, the Merritt Fund has given $9,710 in grant awards to local neighborhood groups and community associations for the preservation and use of small open spaces. Nine organizations from the Island’s three municipalities have received grants: the Potter League for Animals, the Middletown Tree Association, Friends of Ballard Park, the Hill Association, Miantonomi Memorial Park Commission, Off Broadway Neighborhood Association, Portsmouth Conservation Commission/Friends of Bristol Ferry Common, Glen Farm Road Neighbors and Portsmouth Lower Glen Farm Preservation Committee.

All of this year’s grant recipients were chosen because their proposed projects represent Peter Merritt’s vision of fostering a greater sense of community and connection to the land through small scale land conservation and beautification projects. Grant use ranges from fencing at Glen Farm’s horse turn-out area to continued improvement on Equality Park to targeted tree planting. The Potter League for Animals received a grant to landscape and beautify equipment around the new shelter. Executive Director Christie Smith said, “Peter was helpful to me many years ago when this construction project was just a very vague notion for a few people at the Potter League. It is an honor to be a beneficiary of his commitment to the Aquidneck Island community.” Other grant awards will be used for signage and boundary markers, kiosk signs, a memorial bench and a historical marker

Merritt Fund Committee Chair Deborah Merritt said, “As Peter Merritt's wife, I lived his vision and dream every day at home.  For me, watching his vision for ALT and the ‘pocket parks,’ ear-marked by the Merritt Neighborhood Fund, come to fruition makes me very proud of his legacy.  As he would be quick to remind all of us, it was and is a team effort that could not be coming true without the staff and many volunteers of ALT and the Merritt Neighborhood Fund.  A heart felt ‘thank you’ to all who have kept their passion for conservation true.”

The Merritt Neighborhood Fund at the Aquidneck Land Trust was established in 1999 to honor the late Peter M. Merritt, the organization’s visionary president emeritus, for his decade of leadership. The purpose of the fund is to provide modest ($100 - $2,500) grants to Aquidneck Island neighborhood and community groups. To date, the Merritt Fund has awarded $38,255 to 30 local groups for park revitalization, repair and purchase of playground equipment and for landscaping.

The ALT’s mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island's open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. ALT has conserved more than 1,983 acres on Aquidneck Island since its inception in 1990. The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  For more information, visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org or call (401) 849-2799.

As always, thank you for your continued support
for conservation on our Island.

This email update has been sent to the entire Aquidneck Land Trust email list. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive these email updates by replying to this message. If you have any questions or comments, please call 401-849-2799 x18 or jpohl@ailt.org.