Aquidneck Land Trust (“ALT”) is accepting applications for grants from the Merritt Neighborhood Fund, which supports the preservation of small parks, community gardens, and other natural spaces on Aquidneck Island. Established in 1999 to honor the late Peter M. Merritt, the organization’s president emeritus, the Fund supports projects that strengthen community identity and character, and which model the ethic of land conservation and stewardship through community volunteerism. Grants typically range from $250 to $2500.
“The Merritt Fund has enabled Islanders to improve and beautify their public spaces for the past 19 years.” said Chuck Allott, Executive Director of ALT. “Last year, we awarded 15 grants totaling over $14,000 to local community and neighborhood groups. It is wonderful to see the creativity and effort poured into these projects, which benefit so many residents and visitors on Aquidneck Island.”
Some of the projects funded last year were the creation of garden beds at Emmanuel Church, new plantings for the Rochambeau Wall Garden, bench installations at Paradise Park, improvements to Legion Park and the Portsmouth Dog Park, the creation of a vegetable garden at Portsmouth Middle School, improvements to the vegetable garden at Rogers High School, and signage in Miantonomi Park.
A full list of 2017 awards and applications for 2018 Merritt Neighborhood Fund grants may be found on the ALT website (https://ailt.org/our-work/merritt-fund/). Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 6, 2018. Award decisions will be announced in early June.
