Keep Virginia Beautiful is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April and May 2012, and the Friends of Pocahontas State Park have been awarded a $500 grant in the Beautification and Community Greening Category.  The KVB grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of (30) grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories:  Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling.  These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

Dam at Pocahontas State Park

Friends of Pocahontas State Park will use Keep Virginia Beautiful grant funds to plant native milkweed and butterfly weed at multiple high traffic public locations at the park including the park sign at the park entrance, the nature center and the pool area.  These areas already have established garden beds, but require cleaning and greening up with new plants.  This project will beautify public park areas, educate visitors about native plants and the importance of native pollinators, establish butterfly and pollinator habitat, and increase educational program offerings at the park.  The park interpretive staff will then have an opportunity to use signage purchased by the grant funds, and programs to teach people about using native plants in their landscape plans and yards.  Furthermore, they will be able to offer public programs on Monarch butterflies and Monarch butterfly tagging as well as other programs based on much needed pollinator species.  Milkweed is not only beautiful, but is also an important host plant for Monarch caterpillars and butterflies.  The park entrance, nature center and pool area are located in high traffic areas that saw 300,000+ visitors in 2011.