Earth Day, now in its 46th year, is coming on Friday, April 22, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation has provided support to Central Massachusetts' green spaces by providing $10,000 to Mass Audubon's Wachusett Meadow in Princeton for all people-including those with vision and mobility impairments-with the Rosemary Davis Memorial Fund.
The all-person trail, made possibility by the memorial fund, is laid with handicapped and wheelchair accessible material and allows anyone to appreciate the 1,000 acre sanctuary. With the new trail and Earth Day coming up, now is a great time to take advantage of what the Princeton sanctuary has to offer.
“I like Earth Day because it gives urban residents, kids especially, the ability to go out and say, ‘oh hey, I didn't know this trail led to this beach, or, I didn't know this path led to this pond or river,” said Lisi. “Then, people like Mass Audubon develop education and programs and enable people to come enjoy the space.”
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation has given other grants to organizations like the Common Ground Land Trust in Leicester, the Dudley Conservation Land Trust and the Greater Worcester Land Trust, though the foundation gives grants out to a vast array of recipients.
“Unlike another charity, we are passionate about the whole community,” explained Lisi. “It's perfect that some of the funds go to help healthy lands and some want to help children. It is a puzzle, it's weaving. Different threads come into play for the whole charity.”