A conservation greenway is a thoughtfully planned corridor of protected land that connects natural areas while supporting both ecological health and community well-being. Our greenway has connections—it is part of larger conservation network, which balances growth and sustainability. This is our vision for OUR Bob O Link Greenspace.

Vision & Core Objectives

Vision:

Restore and steward a resilient urban riparian corridor that improves stream health, supports native biodiversity and remains welcoming for neighborhood gathering, recreation, and everyday use. This is achieved by establishing diverse partnerships to secure funding, engage professional resources, and build long-term volunteer stewardship.

Core Goals, Objectives and Activities

🍃Conservation Focus

Objective: Prioritize long-term ecological protection by developing and implementing a conservation plan.

Related Activities

• Strategic Planning: develop a conservation design and 5-year plan to prioritize and drive conservation efforts.
• Connecting people: engage stakeholders to inspire long-term stewardship and model a role in protecting and sustaining the natural world around them.
• Build partnerships: connect with environmental groups, local government and businesses to increase the impact of this project.
• Long-term urban success: work with local utilities for the longest lasting impact on the conservation of the area.
  Utility easements that intersect with riparian areas creates a fabulous opportunity for innovation.
• Education: extend the reach of educational programs and conservation measures beyond our neighborhood.
• Share: be a demonstration site for best practice private urban greenspace conservation
  
  

🍃Preserve Natural Habitats

Objective: Restore and safeguard native environments where native plants, animals, pollinators, birds, and aquatic life can flourish.

Related Activities

• Native Planting: replace low-value invasive plants with native species that provide higher-quality forage, improved insect diversity, better nesting and cover conditions
• Provide Safe, Artificial Roosting Or Nesting Habitat: install bird houses, bat boxes, and artificial bark for migratory bats
• Create wildlife habitats: implement all activities of conservation from native planting to diversity of environment.
• Monitor wildlife: complete wildlife surveys, install cameras and build community science programs (iNaturalist, eBird, eButterfly, etc.
  LINK TO THE BOB O LINK GREENSPACE iNATURALIST PROJECT
• Light pollution reduction: educate the neighborhood, evaluate light pollution and mitigate as able.

🍃Support & Increase Biodiversity

Objective: Restore and safeguard a diverse conservation greenway that sustains pollinators, preserves rare

Related Activities

• Native Planting: Plant native herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, including fruit and nut species, pollinator gardens and meadows.
• Invasive Removal: Remove and suppress invasive species

🍃Improve water quality

Objective: Restoring and safeguarding native vegetation along the Big Elm Fork and meander core wetland to filter pollutants, reduce sediment, nutrient runoff, and soil erosion. Which leads to cleaner water, healthier habitats for aquatic life, and safer water resources for the entire community.

Related Activities

• Stream bank: stabilize and restore streambanks using bioengineering and native vegetation
• Riparian buffer: establish a diverse, layered riparian buffer along the Big Elm Tributary
• Stream canopy: establish and expand stream canopy for sufficient shade and reduced stream temperature
• Storm water: install rain gardens to filter flow from street storm drains
• Trash: creek clean-ups and ways to limit garbage entering the creek
• Maintain: build a long-term maintenance and monitoring culture

🍃Enhance Life Through Nature:

Objective: provide serene, natural retreats where people can relax and unwind, and also be active physically, socially, spiritually and mentally.

Related Activities

• Engage: create a welcoming space for all ages to connect with and enjoy nature up-close.
• Health & Wellness: promote health and wellbeing by designating areas for play, establishing walking/running trails, meditation gardens, community spaces, edible plants and cut flower gardens.
• Education: promote environmental education through signage, guided walks, community events, and collaborating with school programs to offer hands-on learning opportunities that deepen understanding of local ecosystems.
• Communication: provide monthly newsletter and website blog articles that enhance education and connection.

Problems along our stream and greenspace

• Streambank erosion 
• Degraded riparian plant condition
• Excess nutrients and sediment in surface water
• Insufficient shade and altered stream temperature
• Invasive plant pressure limiting native regeneration and reducing diversity
• Heavy need for mowing
• Limited pollinators
• Poor soil structure and nutrients
• Aging trees falling causing damage to nearby structures and increasing cost of maintenance
• Trash generated by humans directly, or indirectly from washing downstream
• Damage to trees and plants caused by people
• Improper pet management, including picking up after and protecting people and other pets from harm

Key Considerations and Constraints:

• Conservation best practices
• Volunteer participation
• Utility easements
• Regulatory oversight of streambank and wetland work in Kentucky
• Managing safety, trash and destruction as private land that is publicly accessible
• Funding