Coalition Notes – 2010-09-02

1. Become a Master Naturalist. Next training class starts Monday, September 13, 2011 with a three hour orientation and a five hour hands-on learning session. The Texas Master Naturalist Heartwood Chapter, based in Montgomery County, is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to training and organizing volunteers inspired by nature. Using lectures, printed materials, field observations, and community volunteer projects to pursue their mission. In 2009, 43 Master Naturalist members donated 5,726 hours to nature projects and the natural areas in Montgomery County and neighboring counties of Walker County and Harris County. For information on the Texas Master Naturalist program in your area visit www.heartwoodtmn.org, call 936/273-2261, ext. 401 or email training@heartwoodtmn.org.
2. TPW Commission Awards More Than $6.7 Million in Outdoor Recreation Grants, $3.3 Million in Trails Grants. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today awarded more than $6.8 million in competitive grants for city and county parks, ball parks, swimming pools, nature trails and other outdoor recreation facilities across the state. TCEQ also approved approximately $3.3 million for 23 National Recreational Trail Grant projects in communities across the state, as well as in 8 state parks and a wildlife management area. Included in the funding amount was $25,000 awarded to Texas 4-H for an All-Terrain-Vehicle safety program. More on the TPWD website. Grants were made to the following local communities & CEC member organizations (*):

• • Greater Houston Off-Road Bike Association, $160,000 to design and build the new Hunstville Trail. Funds also will be used to construct bridges and erect signs (*)
  • Memorial Park Conservancy, $84,872 to renovate the 1.4-mile granite trail, build an additional 1.2 miles of trail, and provide signs and gates (*)
  • Sam Houston Park Improvements, City of Houston, $1,000,000 (*)
  • Buffalo Bend Park Development, Harris County, $997,200 (with Buffalo Bayou Partnership (*))
  • Land adjacent to Willbern Elementary School, Reid Road Municipal Utility District, $75,000
  • City of Freeport, $199,898 to renovate the 0.13-mile Wetlands Trail and build observation decks, a bridge and place signs.
  • City of Nassau Bay, $160,000 to build the 0.94-mile concrete Peninsula Trail and provide benches and signage.
  • Community Park in the City of East Bernard, $500,000