Community Bridges’ Early Education Division has received a $3 million grant from CALFIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to turn our childcare centers’ outdoor play spaces into nature-based learning environments. Through the “Blacktop to Bloom” project, we will remove up to 10,000 square feet of concrete from centers in Watsonville, Freedom, Santa Cruz, and the San Lorenzo Valley, replacing it with trees, gardens, and eco-friendly play structures.

This project aims to enhance outdoor classrooms, increase tree canopy cover, and promote environmental stewardship. It will provide shaded play areas, reduce heat islands, and support healthier eating habits through vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Children will benefit from hands-on nature learning, while the community gains greener, more sustainable spaces.

We’re excited to see this initiative flourish, benefiting both children and the environment for years to come. Check back to monitor progress and achievements in the near future.