April — The Fundamentals of Public Greenspaces
Growing Green Together: How Capital Trees Cultivates Community and Thrives through Partnership
Capital Trees is committed to creating and stewarding public greenspaces that are inspiring, welcoming, and collaborative, and through the implementation of that mission our spaces provide abundant opportunities for connection.
Public greenspaces are an essential reminder that we are not alone in this world. There is a hum and vitality in these spaces that enable us to forget the self and become part of the whole. With every greenspace we add to the city, the vital connections between nature’s living things, large and small, expand. We benefit from welcoming spaces that feel like home, and the natural world benefits from our careful stewardship. Nature has a way of reaching across barriers and into the fabric of our lives, and that is increasing in the Richmond region thanks to Capital Trees’ successful model of collaboration. Our 15 years of progress is rooted in strong community engagement, strategic partnerships, and a diversified funding model, all of which contribute to the organization’s sustainable growth and positive impact.
Community Engagement – Embracing Everyone to Become Involved
Last month’s blog highlighted the important work of community engagement, from the equitable and meaningful conversations before project design begins to the continued education about and collective care of our greenspaces. Much like trees benefit symbiotically from pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi, working side-by-side with our volunteers provides a mutually beneficial exchange as we tend the earth with eco-friendly practices. We experience the well-documented benefits of time spent outside, we are learning, we are engaged in teamwork, and we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. There is power in that kind of collaboration, and we embrace everyone who wants to be involved.
The Strength of Partnerships – Public & Private Collaboration
Steadily building on our partnerships with government agencies, businesses, and other organizations is essential. We’re grateful that Richmond, Virginia is home to a variety of organizations that are all working in tandem towards a greener future. Take our partnership with City of Richmond Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. It is precisely because of our constructive and valuable collaboration that we are both able to amplify our abilities to sustainably care for vital public greenspaces in places like Great Shiplock Park, Canoe Run Park, Byrd Park, and the Hotchkiss Green. Our shared commitment to championing and maintaining greenspaces ensures they’ll remain accessible to the community and beneficial for the environment long-term and for the next generation.
Qui Nguyen with Richmond City Parks joins us on many of our collaborative workdays.
During our 15th Anniversary Celebration our “horticulture display table” created meaningful connections between Boxwood, Oxford, and the newly formed Highland Park, garden clubs. Their representatives showcased and labeled plant specimens as an educational and decorative element. While working together, friendships were made, lessons in native plant identification shared, and plans exchanged to stay involved with Capital Trees’ mission.
Robin and Wayne Johnson at the Horticulture Table at our 15th Anniversary Celebration.
Char Lewis – Highland Park Garden Club, Kay Tyler – Boxwood Garden Club, Pam O’Rouke – Oxford Garden Club, and Anne Poarch – Capital Trees’ Director of Advancement
Exact Stormwater Management became one of our newest partners during construction of the Hotchkiss Green as our lead contractor. With their expertise in stormwater management they were able to execute our design for the permeable asphalt trails to ensure that they are not only graceful and inviting, but functional and environmentally sound. Building on our good working relationship, Exact Stormwater has gone on to champion our Spring for Green Giving Campaign with a Lead Match and helped to design and fund the Capital Trees’ t-shirts (with our new logo!) that were given away at the Hotchkiss Green Earth Day Celebration on April 27. Their partnership on these efforts increases our access to valuable resources and helps us expand our reach. Collaborating and strengthening ties with other organizations matters because with every partner that joins us at the table, we accelerate our shared journey toward a healthier city.
A Garden of Funding: Diversifying Investment
A garden needs diversity to thrive and maintain resiliency, and diversification is important to our organization in many ways. For a non-profit like Capital Trees, a diverse funding model strengthens our long-term sustainability. Minimizing dependence on any one source enhances our financial stability and guarantees consistent support for our environmental and educational initiatives. We draw our revenue from a variety of sources including government grants, foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual contributions.
Key Funding Streams
Foundations and Philanthropy
Grants and philanthropic contributions are essential pillars supporting Capital Trees’ work, providing vital resources to advance our mission of transforming public landscapes into healthy, vibrant greenspaces. By finding funding sources that align with our mission and vision, including those focused on environmental stewardship, equity, and community health—we’re able to acquire the necessary funding to support our work and build strong, strategic partnerships that maximize impact and long-term success.
Individual Donations
Grassroots support powers our progress and has been important to our organization since the beginning. Individual giving not only fuels day-to-day operations but also strengthens our community-driven approach. Every gift, no matter the size, contributes directly to greener, more inclusive spaces. A community that is on board with a shared vision for a better future, and is willing to put their hard earned dollars towards that vision, is a community that is also willing to put in the work necessary to get us there. Join us in shaping a healthier future—become a supporter of Capital Trees today.
Corporate Sponsorships
Partnerships with local and regional businesses provide an opportunity for shared impact. Through sponsorships, companies demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and community well-being, while gaining visibility and engagement opportunities. Collaborating with Capital Trees is a meaningful way for businesses to invest in the spaces their employees and customers enjoy. In addition to supporting Capital Trees financially, many local businesses participate in volunteer workdays, where entire teams join us on site at projects to get their hands in the dirt. This allows employees to see firsthand the impact their commitment can make, and to see that their workplace values investing in our community.
Government Funding
Public funding plays a pivotal role in driving large-scale improvements and long-term planning. Capital Trees works closely with local and state government agencies to secure grants and support for projects that align with public goals—such as climate resilience, public health, and equitable access to nature. We know we can’t transform our community alone. Working closely with local governments helps ensure that working towards a greener city is top of mind for local representatives and that resources are being earmarked for greening initiatives. We need folks at every level of government advocating for our environment and the future the next generation deserves.
Having this breadth of funding increases our ability to continue getting projects done on time and with the smartest use of resources. With us, nothing goes to waste. Donors trust that we’re maximizing and magnifying their gifts. Supporting Capital Trees is more than a donation—it’s an investment in the health, beauty, and vibrancy of our shared community spaces.
April — Urban Greenspace Maintenance
April has been a busy month for Mother Nature and Capital Trees Volunteers. With the longer days and warmer weather, garden tasks abound. In 2013 Capital Trees installed their first gardens in Great Shiplock Park. Fast forward to 2015/2016 the gardens along Dock Street (The Low Line Gardens) were planted. Over the next 10 years we are proud to say we, along with various partners, have added three additional public greenspaces in the City of Richmond as well as assisting several neighborhood associations with renovations of pocket parks.
Keep up with the progress of these spaces through our blog, website, and social media. Below is a snapshot of some of the April happenings at the various locations.
Thanks to the volunteers that come on Wednesday mornings, and the many private groups that also volunteer, the gardens shine for all that come to enjoy them.
An exuberant group of volunteers (see photos below) gave three hours of their time on a Sunday morning to care for trees at Canoe Run Park that were planted in 2023. The teams flexed their muscles and removed stubborn wire grass to enlarge the mulch rings around the tree. The purpose of enlarging the mulch rings is to reduce competition for the developing roots of the young trees. Follow this link to learn more! Trees and Turf
The tree planting project at Canoe Run Park and accompanying ongoing maintenance is possible thanks to our partnership with Keep Virginia Beautiful and Co-Star. This park is located at 600 West 22nd Street, Richmond, VA. It features a walking track, Vita Course with workout stations, and a children’s playground. In the next 5-10 years the trees planted around the track will provide much needed shade for track users. The shade will help combat the heat island impact created by the roadways surrounding the track.
In April, our regular Low Line volunteers and several other groups (including Fulton Bank and members of the Tuckahoe Garden Club pictured below) planted 8 trees at the Low Line and over 30 new shrubs. Gardening is a journey and we learned over the past 10 years that the shrub Ilex glabra does not thrive in these gardens. The new shrubs (Ilex verticillata and Ilex vomitoria) that we planted are replacements for some of the Ilex glabra. We will continue to phase in new plants over the next two years.
Below are some pictures of volunteers working in the Low Line Gardens (2803 Dock Street) keeping on top of the plethora of weeds that come with the recent rain and warm temperatures. If you would like to join us, we meet every Wednesday between 8 a.m. and noon. You can sign up using this link. CFengage Sign up
We also want to give a warm welcome to students enrolled in the Henrico Career Skills Exploration Class (hard at work in the photos below). They join us on Tuesdays during the school year and learn what it might be like to pursue a career outdoors.
Finally I want to pause and appreciate the beauty afforded to us by our public greenspaces. The photos of the blooms below just don’t do it justice, we hope you’ll visit the Low Line Gardens in person soon.
Counter clockwise starting in the upper left corner: Sisyrinchium angustifolium (blue-eyed grass), Chionanthus virginiana (fringetree), bee feeding on Amsonia flower, and Fothergilla gardenii ‘Mount Airy’
I hope you celebrated Earth Day by spending time in your favorite outdoor space enjoying all that nature offers.
April— Featured Trees Seasonal Update
Spring has sprung and the black gum trees are leafing out to prove it. On the left, is a recently planted black gum at the in-progress Hotchkiss Green. On the right is a close up of the leaf out on one of the black gums planted at Deep Run Park.
Throughout 2025, we’ll be documenting the black gum tree, Nyssa sylvatica, which is planted at many of our urban greenspaces. This native tree is one of our favorites, hence its wide use. It offers interest every season of the year — shiny green leaves in the summer, brilliant reds, yellows, oranges and purples in the fall, and architectural structure in the winter.
Important for our purposes, black gum trees thrive in a variety of growing conditions making it suitable for planting in urban soils. They are tolerant of drought, heat, and both dry and wet soils. Typically, in cultivated conditions, the tree matures at 20-30 feet in height with a 1-2 inch diameter trunk. Because it’s native, it supports a variety of wildlife including mammals, birds, and insects.
You can learn more about black gum trees here.
April — “Spotted At”
Capital Trees was spotted at several community events during the month of April for Earth Day and Earth Week activities! We tabled at Earth Day events at the Science Museum of Virginia, Henrico County, and Riverfront Plaza. These events allowed us to connect with community members about the importance of urban greenspaces, share more about the transformative work we’re doing, and invite folks to get involved. We also hosted an Earth Day Celebration at Hotchkiss Field Community Center to showcase the in-progress Hotchkiss Green project that is well underway. Many community organizations joined us at the Hotchkiss Earth Day event to teach about sustainability, the environment, and provide hands-on activities to get people of all ages engaged. Thanks to everyone who joined us at these events, and who stopped by our information stations!
