The Green Guardian Award is an honor bestowed every April on the Earth Fair stage to community members who are taking action to improve, protect, or restore our environment. Earth Fair recognizes and celebrates these individuals, groups, businesses and schools who are the real “Green Guardians” of our planet. Winners are recognized during a ceremony, receive a custom award, and a financial gift.
We wanted to shine the spotlight on a special nominee in the “Business” category, so we nominated Fort Gratiot Township. Our nomination identified two leaders within the Township; Robert Crawford, Township Supervisor, and Connie Neese, Parks Commissioner. Rob has led the Township for decades and will be retiring as an elected public servant at the end of 2024. Rob has a strong vision for connected trails, recreation opportunities, and park preservation. Connie is a resident of the township and appointed Commissioner who is blazing an unprecedented environmental trail within the Township.
Fort Gratiot Township acquired over 100 acres of vacant farmland to create recreation and conservation areas with amenities that will enhance the community’s quality of life. They were successfully awarded $600,000 in state funds going toward this project, called Parker Road West Park. Fort Gratiot is prioritizing sustainability on this property by incorporating recycled plastic materials and installing a rain garden with native plantings. The property will connect to existing parks and paths, including the Bridge to Bay trail and over five miles of existing bike paths nestled within natural settings.
Under Connie’s leadership, the township invested $1,000 in 500 Michigan native plants for theirKeewahdin Beach Stabilization Project. This project supports dune restoration along a recently built ramp from the parking lot to the beach. Over 500 native plants were installed in two hours with volunteer help from numerous community partners. Plants were chosen based on native Michigandune habitat and shoreline stabilization characteristics. Native plants help with erosion control and water quality improvements.
This small-scale restoration project has led to a larger vision. They have set aside land for St. Clair County’s first Native Plant Education Center. This community-supported plant production hoop house facility will supply restoration projects in the region with free or reduced-cost native plants, provide native plants for neighborhood pollinator and rain gardens, and teach about native plant garden design. The focus of the Center is education and stewardship through hands-on volunteer opportunities.
We are pleased Fort Gratiot Township received the Earth Fair Green Guardian Business Award! They are being proactive to conserve and protect green spaces and recreational spaces that strive to be environmentally sustainable. Improvements in their natural areas will boost the economic, recreational, and social values of our watershed. Congratulations, Fort Gratiot Township!
Sheri loves visiting United States historical sites and dragging her family along. Three of their most recent trips wereto Mt. Vernon and Arlington Cemetary in VA, Lincoln’s birthplace home in KY, and Ford’s Theatre in D.C.