Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture and Tourism (SWNMACT)

Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture, and Tourism (swnmACT), in partnership with the Town of Silver City, requests funding of $11,350.00 from the NMEDD ORD Trails+ grant, to be matched with $84,230 in-kind, to implement and install the Silva Creek Nature TrailHEAD, located on the banks of Silva Creek, between the Silva Creek Botanical Gardens and the Historic Waterworks Site, as an initiation point for the Silva Creek Nature Trail, connecting the international Continental Divide Trail (CDT) to businesses, schools, trails and open spaces in downtown Silver City. Project activities to include: · Installing an inviting Trailhead with seating, water access, and interpretive signage. · Initiating the Silva Creek “re-wilding” project, removing invasive plants and installing native, drought-tolerant landscaping. · Designing and installing wayfinding signage, connecting trails and green spaces in Silver City, along with cultural/historical/environmental educational information pertinent to Silva Creek, Silver City, and Grant County. · Collaborating with Youth Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps, and numerous community-based partners to implement the project. The Silva Creek Nature Trail will link to CDT, Grant County, and 28 trails throughout the area. Other partners are improving safe bike trails to encourage more cycling by youth, seniors, and adults. Installing the Silva Creek Nature Trail and Interpretive TrailHEAD activates safe and inviting recreational opportunities for communities to use trails, parks, and greenways, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to natural, built, social, economic, and creative resources of Silver City and other Grant County Five Points communities.