Restoring ecological function and strengthening community stewardship by combining site-specific design with youth-led learning and engagement.
Regenerative Design Group partnered with Sustainable Springfield, a collaborative initiative of ReGreen Springfield, the Springfield Renaissance High School, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mount Holyoke College, and the Springfield Museums, to support ecological restoration and youth engagement at the Abbey Brook Conservation Area. The 4.2-acre urban stream system serves as public open space and an outdoor classroom, but faces challenges common to urban watersheds, including unmanaged stormwater inputs, streambank erosion, invasive species, and degraded habitat.
RDG’s role focused on the planning and design of three low-tech restoration projects, paired with the creation of the Youth Green Stewardship Expedition (YGSE), a 9-day, hands-on internship for high school and college students. The program combined in-stream, trail, and upland restoration work with ecological observation, design exercises, and facilitated conversations about place, stewardship, and environmental equity.
This project was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Grant, which supports community stewardship of local natural resources. These efforts helped build local capacity for long-term watershed stewardship while strengthening connections between ecological function, community use, and youth leadership.
Client
Sustainable Springfield
Abbey Brook Conservation Area
Springfield, MA
Services
- Designed three site-specific restoration projects addressing erosion, invasive species, and in-stream habitat.
- Developed and led the Youth Green Stewardship Expedition, a 9-day immersive restoration and learning program.
