The crowd is
helping to fund a green preservation project: Kickstarter supporters have
contributed more than $5000 to fund the stormwater management project that will
keep water out of the Cynwood Train Station and help preserve it long term. In
the process, the project creates a welcoming space, provides
educational/demonstration opportunities, and improves local water quality to
boot. What’s not to love?
The station is
part of the Cynwood Heritage Trail in Lower Merion Township, PA. It is an
active-use public transport station being revitalized as part of a more
sustainable approach to community living.
Sarah
Francis is a project board member and green consultant (LEED-AP for existing
buildings) for the Cynwyd Station Revitalization Project. This project
was her idea – on the ground and on Kickstarter – and it’s part of the
green vision for the site.
Here’s a
description from the Kickstarter site:
The sustainable landscape was designed
by North Street Design, LLC, in conjunction with students of the Engineering
School at Villanova University. The most impressive element of the initiative
is its innovative, multifunctional rainwater harvesting system, designed
specifically for the station. Tanks made from recycled materials can also be
used as benches for trail users and commuters, and the collected water will
irrigate surrounding gardens, lowering our tap water use, while also preventing
runoff from causing more soil erosion in the gardens.
They have
already fully-funded the project, but the rest of the money raised in the next
two days will contribute to additional stormwater management on site. Sarah Francis
writes:
the extra money will go towards the other elements of the ...site, including plantings and supplies for 2 rain gardens, and a planted trench along the foundation of the station.
I’ve
contributed. I hope others will consider
supporting this project and using it as an example for their own work.
Is anyone else
out there crowd-funding their green projects?
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