Exciting Beginnings
The US Navy's progress with its cleanup of "Black Beauty"—a
superfund site at the former New Gosport landfill—helped convince The
Elizabeth River Project and other creek supporters that a more concerted
partnership approach was needed to achieve maximum results on the creek.
The Southeastern Public Service Agency, operating the regional trash
collection station and a waste–to–energy power plant, implemented
stormwater improvements and planted one acre of urban buffer to the
creek's shores. Giant Cement of Virginia set aside a 22–acre
"no–mow" zone and invested over $25,000 on pollution
prevention. The Cradock community and other volunteers, over 200 total,
turned out for an Earth Day 2002 clean up and planting along the creek.
Peck Land Co. agreed to a 6.2–acre conservation buffer and wetland
restoration with the Elizabeth River Project. And as the Paradise Found
plan was headed to the print shop, the Portsmouth City Council voted
unanimously to create the Paradise Creek Park prescribed by Team Paradise
in the plan. It was obviously in the stars (RiverStars, no doubt). The
time was right for Paradise, but even so, there was much work to be
done. That's how it started.
And today...
Paradise Creek Park
Progress continues for the creation of Paradise
Creek Park. The work involved a long list of items including developing
initial funding sources, appraisals, surveys, assessments and purchase
agreements with the City of Portsmouth and the property owner.
Oyster Reefs
Forty thousand seed oysters are being
placed on barged-in shell at the mouth of Paradise Creek. Residents of the
Craddock neighborhood, including Boy Scout Troop 222, are also growing
oysters in floats to be added later this summer. Two oyster workshops are
being held to further involve the community and other members of the
public (see Events Calendar). The project is being funded with $75,000 from NOAA,
Fish America, the Chesapeake Bay Program and other sponsors.
Wetlands Rain Garden Creation
The Elizabeth River Project is also
constructing a "rain garden" to treat creek runoff at
Cradock Career and Technical Center on George Washington Highway with
$25,000 from a VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Chesapeake
Bay Watershed Grant.
Contamination Removed
Too, this summer (2004) the US Navy plans to
remove contamination in a wetland area offshore of a landfill at Scott's
Annex.
You Can Help, Too!
Good things are happening in this five-year plan to make Paradise Creek a
model for the nation! To find out how your group or business
can be part of this exciting project and help bring back Paradise, call project manager Lyle Jackson today at (757)
399-7487.
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