Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities: Working Toward a More Sustainable Future!

The PRIDE Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities (HEHC) Program, a project supported by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, has helped two communities learn more about their local natural resources and how to use them to create a more sustainable future.

Melvern's HEHC project work has resulted in a city-supported public walking trail along the Marais de Cygnes River. The city-owned riverfront land was identified as a valuable resource that would provide new opportunities for their community. Working in partnership with local and state entities, they are building more than 7 miles of recreational trails. The trails will be a boost to the community fitness programs and will provide educational opportunities to the school system and community groups to teach about native plants and animals and the importance of protecting their local water supplies.

(A special thanks to raingardens.org for supplying this image)

Rossville's HEHC citizen teams have undertaken a rain garden and native grasses demonstration project to help citizens  learn how to protect local water supplies. Rain gardens "soak up" or recharge local water supplies, reduce runoff, erosion and flooding, and filter contaminants  to clean up storm water. While an individual rain garden may seem like a small contribution, collectively, rain gardens can produce significant water quality benefits. In addition, native plants are more disease tolerant and adapted to local soils which will reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and require less maintenance for community park personnel.