CommUniverCity's Growing Sustainably Program

The Authority contributed $250,000 toward the planning of a new 3.2-mile segment of trail along Silver Creek. Once complete, the Lower Silver Creek Trail system will link Lake Cunningham to the Coyote Creek Trail.

The Authority helped to fund the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society’s Tai Chi and Family Yoga, which will provide weekly and monthly programming to Bay Area families. Participants benefitted physically and mentally by experiencing a low-impact form of exercise surrounded by nature and wildlife. Hosting these types of programs at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge will also foster a sense of community among participants, allowing them to feel connected to each other, which also aids in their connection to the natural resources. In addition to exercise during these programs, attendees also participated in nature walks where they learned about the Refuge, habitats surrounding the Bay, wildlife that rely on these habitats, and their importance to the ecosystem.

The Authority contributed funds to the Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition for their Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition's Coyote Creek Homeless Stream Stewards Trash Free Coyote Creek project where they worked in collaboration with Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed and other volunteer groups and public agencies to achieve a trash free creek within the 10 mile stretch between Yerba Buena Road in South San Jose and Tasman Drive in North San Jose. Project coordinators worked with the homeless who reside along the creek by having them participate in the program. Over 100,000 pounds of trash was gathered in bags, removed from the creek, and hauled to a suitable sanitary landfill.