In a recent government meeting, officials discussed several initiatives aimed at enhancing local green infrastructure and community engagement. One of the key topics was the revival of a rain garden at the senior center, originally funded through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) action grant. The garden had suffered due to improper maintenance, as it was not contracted separately from regular landscaping services. To address this, the city has partnered with the RAC, which secured a grant to cover the cost of new plants, while the Department of Sustainability and Resilience (DSR) will handle installation and ongoing maintenance.

Additionally, the DSR is funding the planting of native plants near the library, adjacent to the Miyawaki forest project. This initiative is part of a broader effort to create a cohesive green infrastructure strategy across the city, with plans to assess and maintain other city-owned rain gardens.

The meeting also highlighted the completion of a brochure summarizing the city's green initiatives and future priorities, which is now available both in print and digitally. Officials expressed a desire to distribute these materials to educate the public about their efforts.

Furthermore, the DSR reported impressive outreach numbers as the fiscal year concludes. The newsletter subscriber count has surged to 652, largely due to increased community involvement in projects like the Miyawaki Forest. The Green Worcester dashboard has also seen a steady average of 313 unique users monthly, indicating growing public interest in sustainability initiatives.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's commitment to enhancing its green spaces and engaging the community in environmental stewardship.