In 2024, the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) used a Friends of NACD grant to initiate a community engagement project at their 87-acre property in Dallas, Oregon, named Cornerstone. This grant enabled Polk SWCD to update their brochures and signage, buy tools dedicated to removing invasive species, and engage a broad group of volunteers by connecting them to the land. 

The brochures were designed to help visitors navigate the trails at Cornerstone and learn more about the significant habitats present on the property, including riparian, conifer forest, oak savanna, oak woodland, and grassland. The interpretive signage gives visitors a more in-depth look at history and significant habitats on the property. Polk SWCD staff collaborated with The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to add traditional knowledge into the signage, giving a well-rounded view of the property and surrounding habitat. 

In addition to the brochures and signage, this grant purchased tools that enabled volunteers to remove invasive plants like the English Hawthorn and Himalayan Blackberry and replace them with important native species. With these tools, Polk SWCD was able to hold five community events, build connections with partners like Oregon State University, and install over 9,000 native plants.  

Most excitingly, these tools will continue to serve the community at future Cornerstone events as well as through Polk SWCD’s tool loan program. Luckiamute Watershed Council and The Friends of Gentle Woods have already utilized this program for urban creek restoration projects, and some local homeowners have been able to borrow these tools to clear brush and make their homes more fire-resilient.  

Polk SWCD’s project is a great example of how a Friends of NACD district grant can kick start a community engagement program and have a lasting impact in your local community. Not only did this program directly engage over 100 volunteers, but it also supported Polk SWCD’s engagement with nine unique local partners.  

Do you want to support important community engagement projects like the one above? Click here to become a Friend of NACD. 

Tags: Friends of NACD