Waste Management and its partner Keep America Beautiful presented Bridgeport High School with a $5,000 “Think Green” Grant today. The money will be used to carry out a beautification project in the Charles Pointe area of the city. The BHS DECA Club applied for the grant, proposing the creation of a community garden, explained DECA President Haleigh Mardos.

 

“We became aware of this opportunity from Mrs. Runner (DECA teacher and sponsor). She told me about it and I thought it was a really great thing to have beautification project to Charles Pointe because we really wanted to bring attention to a new area in the community,” she said.

 

The land is being donated by Genesis Partners and the project fits in perfectly with the overall development of Charles Pointe, said Scott Duarte, managing director for CP Hospitality.

 

“It’s a natural fit for Charles Pointe with the walking trails and sidewalks, etc. We’ve actually dedicated 30 percent of the whole project to green space,” he said.

 

The tract consists of 11 acres and is located along Genesis Boulevard near Fairmont Federal Credit Union. It includes a walking trail, pond and children's play area. 

The implementation of the community garden also provides a hands-on learning experience for students and lets them be part of the Charles Pointe vision as they plant and develop the site, Duarte said.

 

The students have collaborated with the Bridgeport Master Gardeners to implement each phase of the process and integrate the learning experience with other local organizations. Planting will start May 22.

Waste Management has been working with BHS as a partner for several years, said Amanda Marks-Cunningham, public affairs coordinator for Waste Management, who is also a BHS graduate. She said the Think Green Grant provides Waste 

Management with a great avenue to continue the relationship and demonstrates how the company and Keep America Beautiful “think green” every day.

 

“It’s fun, obviously, to be able to help your community. We operate in this community and we want to be a part of it and integrate ourselves into the fabric of it,” she said. “BHS is the fabric of Bridgeport and we’re happy to be a part of that.”