July 2013 - Pollinator Pathway Project - Vacant Lot Restoration for Urban Wildlife
Vacant Lot 1 - 1617 Tenth Street, Niagara Falls, NY

Project Scope:
[1] Re-creation of an eastern deciduous forest plant community (Trees of the Carolinia Forest) for birds, butterflies, and pollinators.
[2] An intentional, human activity that initiates [a] the recreation of a rare oak-hickory ecosustem found within the Niagara River Gorge and Rim, [b] integrity, [c] sustainability, [d] wildlife habitat.
[3] Urban beautification in a challenged neighbrohood using indigenous native plants.
[4] Create a wildlife habitat trail.

Objectives:
[1] Enhance persoonal knowledge of how a woodland ecosystem works.
[2] Advance personal knowledge of ecological restoration practices.
[3] Jumpstart a natural process as a means to ecological awarness and personal education.
[4] Use a young methodology based on the emerging science of restoration ecology.
[6] On going monitoring [invasive plants].
[7] Create habitat for birds, butterflies, pollinators and other urban wildlife.
[8] Use locally sourced, native plants.
[9] Obtain Wildlife Habitat Certification, Pollinator Habitat Certification, Bird Habitat Certification, Habitat Hero Certification.
[10] A Master Naturalist and Natural Areas Community Project.

Project Timeline
2011
Land purchased - 1617 and 1923 Tenth Street Niagara Falls
Application for Niagara River Greenway Statement of Consistency - Awarded
Application for Greenway Funds - Ecological Standing Committee - Incomplete. The National Directors and Executive Oficers of Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscapers terminated the Niagara Falls and River Region Chapter of which I founded and was president.

2012
Site surveyed - Tree Identification
Fence installed - Goal: Eliminatior of trash accumulation, addition of a recognizable urban design element
Partners:
Niagara Boundry
Fox Fence

2013
Deisgn, Plant Consultation, Site Preparation, Installation
Planted native trees and shrubs
Partners:
Cornell Plantations - Robert Wesley, Nikki Cerra
Verbinnens Nursery - Peter Verbinnens
Horticulture Associates - David McGowen
Blooms Relax Landscaping - Eric Bloom

Funding -
Douglas and Michelle Vanstrom