True Hope one for the Future Distributed Park System Final revised (3)

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A Green Initiative for Conservation, Education, and Cultural Legacy: The Distributed Park System Prepared for organizations across North Carolina — and designed for continued discussion and call to action with local public, nonprofit, educational, healthcare, and community partners. Prepared by Crystal B. Moore | Community Advocate / Steward September 21, 2026 1. Land Conservation: Mitigate development impacts to safeguard natural resources and habitats. 2. Water Quality Management: Implement solutions to restore watershed health. 3. Community Connectivity: Rebuild infrastructure to promote social integration. 4. Cultural Preservation: Safeguard and protect historic community assets

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Table of Contents Vision Statement: A Distributed Park System & Community Heritage Corridor .........................3 Chapter 1| ........................................................................................................................................5 The Green Shield Blueprint: Uniting Local Landscapes to Forge North Carolina’s Next Compact State Park ........................................................................................................................................5 The future of environmental resilience across North Carolina relies on expanding our conservation focus to protect the vital spaces right outside our front doors. True community health—the kind that naturally filters the air we breathe, absorbs heavy stormwater, and honors shared neighborhood heritage—is best achieved by cultivating green infrastructure directly where communities live and work....................................................................................................5 NC Environmental & Education Example #1: ..............................................................................5 NC Community Wealth & Heritage Preservation Example #2: ...................................................5 Chapter 2 .........................................................................................................................................6 Igniting Education: Transforming Kentwood Forest & Wetlands into a Living Classroom .........6 The Water Mandate: Cultivating Nature, Health, and Environmental Wellness .............................7 Cultivate Green Minds: Living Classroom & Proven Success Stories ........................................8 Chapter 3 | .......................................................................................................................................8 SITE ANATOMY & WATERSHED INFRASTRUCTURE of KENTWOOD .....................................9 Anatomy of Kentwood Forest Park (backside view) 100 Vaiden St Main St, Lenoir, NC. ..........9 The Challenge Visual: Overcoming Structural & Environmental Deficits & Resolutions ............9 Resolution Examples: Solar, Wind and Hydro Innovation ........................................................ 10 Chapter 4 | Watershed & Wetland Conservation ......................................................................... 12 Vital Watershed Sites in Lenoir and Caldwell County .............................................................. 12 Why Do This Wetland & Other Wetlands Matter in Caldwell County and Around the World? .... 12 The Power of Wetlands: Earth's Living Infrastructure .............................................................. 12 Site Anatomy: 1200A. Pennton Ave (Man made wetland) ....................................................... 12 The Visual Challenges at the Pennton Avenue Wetland ......................................................... 13 Mitigation Example: Designing a Waterwheel .......................................................................... 13 Sustaining Structural Integrity and Public Safety: ........................................................................ 14 Safety Hazard & Fall Prevention: .............................................................................................. 15 Resolution Example #1: Implementing Surplus Street Signs – ................................................ 15 Resolution Example #2 ............................................................................................................. 16 Community & Visitor Benefits: The Trailhead Landmark Experience: ..................................... 16

Wetland Management & Community Stewardship ...................................................................... 16 Why Do This Wetland & other Wetlands Matter in Caldwell County and Around the World? .... 17 Water System & Wetland Goals – Caldwell's Animal Shelter Backyard) ................................ 17 Visible Challenges of Caldwell County Stormwater Wetland ................................................... 18 Proximity & Runoff Management: ............................................................................................. 18 Consider this & Why Source Control Matters: Together we can help do our part to reduce ...... 19 2. Infrastructure & Public Health Synergy Example: Implementing an oversized plastic bottle disposal model for recycling. ..................................................................................................... 19 3. Educational & Environmental Harmony:............................................................................ 20 Chapter 5| ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Community Resilience, Health & Equitable Access ..................................................................... 21 Connecting Our Neighborhoods and Distributed Park Systems into a Compact & NC Eco State Park System .................................................................................................................................. 21 Investing in the Future: ................................................................................................................. 22 Proactive Public Health & Resilience: Overcoming Cumulative Crises ................................... 22 A Scalable Vision for Underserved Youth: ................................................................................... 23 From the Nile River to Lower Creek: The Sphinx of Hibriten ....................................................... 24 Monuments of the Watershed: Connecting Global Mimicry and Local Heritage. ........................ 24 Chapter 6 | .................................................................................................................................... 25 Health + Education: A Shared Green-Infrastructure Opportunity ................................................ 25 The High-Country Blueprint for Caldwell County: Where a school, a hospital, and a park intertwines: .................................................................................................................................... 26 Community Benefit/Environmental Improvement alignment, ................................................... 26 Letter of Endorsement- Healthcare .............................................................................................. 26 Chapter 7 | .................................................................................................................................... 29 Eco - Dollar Investments............................................................................................................... 29 ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 Tapping the Trillion-Dollar Eco-Tourism Economy ................................................................... 29 A Zero-Cost Community Investment:........................................................................................ 29 THE GOOGLE CATALYST: ALIGNING WITH A $1 BILLION LEGACY ................................. 29 The "Eco-Dollar" Advantage & "Circular Economy" Material List ................................................ 30 Infrastructure Asset Example : Waste becomes Wealth. ......................................................... 30 Strategic Alignment & Fiscal Partnership ..................................................................................... 30 The Foundation & Local Equity ................................................................................................. 30

The Feasible Data & Impact ..................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 8| Safeguarding the Trail ................................................................................................ 31 Letter of Endorsement: Girls in Coding, The Arts, Over Mountain Victory Trail ......................... 32 Significant Natural and Cultural Value: The Kentwood & Wetlands Ecosystem ......................... 33 Chapter 9| ..................................................................................................................................... 34 The Compact Park Vision: Protecting Land, Water, and Legacy ................................................ 34 From Local Stewardship to State-Level Protection: ................................................................. 34 Statewide Historical Connections ............................................................................................. 34  Dr. Alfred Abraham Kent: November 2, 1858–August 11, 1944....................................... 34 Pioneering Milestones & Historical Impact ............................................................................... 34 Call to Action: Join the Kentwood Hub Coalition .......................................................................... 35 How You Can Partner ............................................................................................................... 36 Water & Buffer Security: Protection of priority increases: ............................................................ 36 Historic resources/sites associated with persons of exceptional importance in North Carolina's historical narrative ..................................................................................................................... 36  Dr. Alfred Abraham Kent Jr-October 23, 1905–November 07, 1975 ................................... 37 The Legacy of Dr. Alfred Kent Jr.: Physician, Horticulturist, and Community Leader ............ 37 Public Health Milestones & Horticultural Conservation ...................................................... 38  Madam Lena Evelyn Helen Kent - May 22,1911- January 25,1999 ..................................... 39 Role: The Legacy of Mayor Kent: First Female Mayor & Community Champion ................... 39 Honoring Past Visionaries: ........................................................................................................... 40 Strategic Alignment: North Carolina Forest Service .................................................................... 41 Sustainable Timeline of Kentwood ............................................................................................... 42 Chapter 10 .................................................................................................................................... 42 Strategic Value for Caldwell County Schools ............................................................................... 42 Academic Alignment & Educational Framework: G.R.O.W. & P.O.W.E.R. ............................. 42 Infrastructure STEM Asset Example: Waste becomes Wealth. ............................................... 43 Chapter 11| ................................................................................................................................... 44 Guarding North Carolina's Lifelines: Local Waters, Global Stakes, Watershed Continues ........ 45 Spotlight on North Carolina Native Endangered Species: The Magnificent Ramshorn Snail . 45 Eco-Mathematica: Integrated Environmental Sanctuary .......................................................... 47 Regional Resilience, Watershed Stewardship, and Community Health .................................. 47 T.H.I.N.K. – A Framework for Equal Investment .......................................................................... 47

Chapter 11. ................................................................................................................................... 48 Anchoring Our History: The Significance of Raising a Flag at Kentwood ................................... 48 United State Flag and Veteran Request for Kentwood ............................................................ 48 The "Veteran" Aspect & Continued Kent Family Archive ......................................................... 48  Col. Archelus Sudderth Kent ............................................................................................. 49  Horatio Miller Kent (Feb. 26, 1857 – Jan. 3, 1944): .............................................................. 49 Letter of Endorsement Veteran Support - .................................................................................... 50 The WWII Combat Era: Dr. Alfred H. Kent (Colonel, USA Ret., Purple Heart) ........................... 51 The Genealogical Mirror: A Synced Family Legacy ................................................................. 52 The Roots of Fairfield: .................................................................................................................. 52 Question: ................................................................................................................................... 52 N.C - V.I.S.I.O.N. ....................................................................................................................... 53 (Veterans, Infrastructure, Students, and Innovation for Our North Carolina Communities) .... 53 Again We H.O.P.E. – Helping Our Planet Endure ....................................................................... 53 A Brighter, Sustainable Future for Lenoir Conclusion .................................................................. 54 References .................................................................................................................................... 55

Vision Statement: A Distributed Park System & Community Heritage Corridor Our goal is to promote clean air and water, enhance conservation, and preserve our community’s deep-rooted history by helping to re-strengthen green and blue spaces back into living community legacies. Investing in parks and renewing green infrastructure in underserved areas can strengthen community well-being, advance social equity, and create lasting environmental and economic benefits. Executive Summary: Kentwood Park surrounding wetlands, Lower Creek, and the Historical West Lenoir Elementary greenspace have a conservation opportunity to be connected in the heart of Lenoir and Caldwell County. Our proposal asks partners to evaluate these places not as isolated projects, but as a network: forest canopy that cools and filters air; wetlands and riparian areas that support water quality; safe outdoor learning close to schools and healthcare; and historically meaningful land that can remain part of the community’s identity or a valuable new eco-destination for the state of North Carolina. This integrated vision connects trails, restores habitats, and supports community-led stewardship that gives students hands-on ways to care for local ecosystems. By coordinating funding, land- use planning, and educational programs, the network can build resilience, welcome eco-tourism, and help Caldwell County create a healthier, more vibrant future. About us: Lenoir, North Carolina Welcome to Lenoir, NC, where our commitment to true environmental stewardship means facing our ecological challenges head-on. The practical goal is to protect what is irreplaceable, repair what is degraded, and connect people—especially children, families, patients, and older adults— to a comfortable place of resilience close to where they already live, learn, work, and receive care. We are all about making a practical, hands-on difference, from managing terrain issues like sinkholes and erosion to clearing choked waterways and dead growth, we are dedicated to restrengthening the health of our local land and protecting our natural assets from the ground up. Join us as we work to turn ecological vulnerabilities into opportunities for renewal. Help us make Lenoir a continuing model of resilient, proactive community care!

Chapter 1| The Green Shield Blueprint: Uniting Local Landscapes to Forge North Carolina’s Next Compact State Park The future of environmental resilience across North Carolina relies on expanding our conservation focus to protect the vital spaces right outside our front doors. True community health—the kind that naturally filters the air we breathe, absorbs heavy stormwater, and honors shared neighborhood heritage—is best achieved by cultivating green infrastructure directly where communities live and work. This transformation begins directly with the existing footprint of Kentwood, serving as the essential starting point and anchor for the entire vision. By utilizing a "Mosaic Conservation" strategy, Kentwood functions as the foundational seed—a primary core that systematically expands to absorb and steward a surrounding network of underutilized, fragmented, and vulnerable parcels. Integrating these adjoining areas seamlessly into the Kentwood baseline builds a high-impact, resilient Compact State Park, weaving together local green spaces into a unified sanctuary that grows stronger with every piece we connect [Haw River State Park, Carvers Creek State Park]. NC Environmental & Education Example #1: ❖ Haw River State Park was established specifically to protect critical headwater wetlands and serve as a dedicated environmental education center. Kentwood mirrors this mission perfectly, but with an urgent public health necessity: its dense forest canopy is required to absorb localized emissions and pump out clean air for Davenport A+ Elementary School children and downtown daycares who sit in immediate proximity to urban traffic pollution. Furthermore, state park funding will secure vital natural water filtration for Lower Creek before it reaches Lake Rhodhiss, while transforming the land into a walkable outdoor STEM classroom for these nearby students. (North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation,n.d.) NC Community Wealth & Heritage Preservation Example #2: ❖ Carvers Creek State Park was created to safeguard historic neighborhood landmarks—specifically Rockefeller’s historic Long Valley Farm—and fragile ecosystems from urban sprawls. Kentwood achieves the exact same goals by permanently protecting our town's rich history and cultural landmarks, while simultaneously boosting nearby property values and ensuring a safer, greener

neighborhood for local families. (North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation,n.d.) Ultimately, transforming Kentwood into a state park replicates the exact success of Haw River and Carvers Creek—leveraging a smaller geographic footprint to maximize youth health, environmental safety, and historical preservation. Chapter 2 Igniting Education: Transforming Kentwood Forest & Wetlands into a Living Classroom When we come together, we can transform Kentwood into a specialized, walkable, and drivable outdoor laboratory. Positioned directly along a high-need urban corridor, this space shifts ecology from the textbook to the terrain through two localized environmental engines: ● The Oxygen Engine: Visitors experience firsthand how our local forest canopy pumps out clean oxygen to actively neutralize airborne pollutants right where children, families, and patients learn, work, live, and recover. ● The Regional Lifeline Engine: Lake Rhodhiss anchors our regional public health infrastructure. As the second reservoir in the Duke Energy Catawba chain, it supports some of the clearest water in the region. Before it enters the lake, Lower Creek water is naturally purified by our local wetlands. This pristine resource is then treated by Granite Falls and the City of Lenoir, feeding an interconnected network that secures safe drinking water across both Caldwell and Burke County. It means that it has some of the cleanest/clearest waters in the area. Fish and wild game animals from the lake are safe to eat, and the nearby town of Granite Falls pulls its drinking water directly from the lake. (Lake Rhodhiss, n.d.) ● Historical Spotlight: The Quest for Clean Water This living classroom bridges modern conservation with regional history. Visitors will explore the same waters where Dr. A.A. Kent historically spearheaded a massive effort, dredging 15 miles of Lower Creek in a pioneering search for cleanliness to protect the health of the people of Lenoir and Morganton. By exploring the wetlands today, students see the continuation of Dr. Kent's vision: utilizing our local natural geography to safeguard our community's clean water supply.

Rooted in History: As documented in the Caldwell County Heritage History Book, this watershed honors the legacy of Dr. A.A. Kent Sr, who supervised the historic dredging of fifteen miles of Lower Creek in his pursuit of clean water for our community. This targeted multi-action transforms the Kentwood District into a qualified "Breathe Easy and Drink Cleaner community." Because healthy schools demand a healthy environment, this sanctuary provides a crucial medical-educational shield—uniquely positioned right where UNC Healthcare facilities (including Mulberry Pediatric, McCreary Cancer Center, and UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital) surround the children of Davenport A+ School. The Water Mandate: Cultivating Nature, Health, and Environmental Wellness W.A.T.E.R. – A Framework for Community & Ecosystem Renewal ● W –Watershed Protection: Restoring Lower Creek and safeguarding our water quality to ensure clean, safe lifelines for generations to come. ● A – Active Wildlife Habitats: Fortifying and enhancing local ecosystems, re- strengthening safe havens for native species and biodiversity. ● T – Transforming Play & Access: Reconnecting children and families to safe, inclusive outdoor recreation and nature close to home, heightening each stage of development- Cognitive, Physical, Social/Emotional, Language, and Creativity.

● E – Environmental Wellness: Cultivating vibrant green and blue spaces to champion human health, nourish emotional resilience, and secure clean air and water for all. ● R – R.E.U.S.E. & S.T.E.A.M. Learning: Where people of all ages can explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through hands-on nature and conservation in their own community backyard. When we come together, we can transform Kentwood into a specialized, walkable, and drivable outdoor laboratory. Positioned directly along a high-need urban corridor, this space shifts ecology from the textbook to the terrain through two localized environmental engines: ● The Oxygen Engine: Visitors experience firsthand how our local forest canopy pumps out clean oxygen to actively neutralize airborne pollutants right where children, families, and patients learn, work, live, and recover. ● The Regional Lifeline Engine: Lake Rhodhiss anchors our regional public health infrastructure. As the second reservoir in the Duke Energy Catawba chain, it supports some of the clearest water in the region. Before it enters the lake, Lower Creek water is naturally purified by our local wetlands. This pristine resource is then treated by Granite Falls and the City of Lenoir, feeding an interconnected network that secures safe drinking water across both Caldwell and Burke County. Stating that it has some of the cleanest/clearest waters in the area. It is mentioned that fish and wild game animals from the lake are safe to eat, and the nearby town of Granite Falls pulls its drinking water directly from the lake. (Lake Rhodhiss, n.d.) Cultivate Green Minds: Living Classroom & Proven Success Stories "Research shows that exposure to nature positively impacts mental health, emotional well-being, and academic performance. For example, a study published in 2021 found that students exposed to green spaces scored 20% higher on tests measuring attention and focus. Nature-inspired designs can significantly benefit students, especially those with trauma histories (Grant, 2025). Chapter 3 | SITE ANATOMY & WATERSHED INFRASTRUCTURE of KENTWOOD Anatomy of Kentwood Forest Park (backside view) 100 Vaiden St Main St, Lenoir, NC. This view highlights a critical area of concern: The park's eroding back boundary such as visible slope and soil instability. Since left unaddressed, erosion has reduced portions of trail, weakened vegetation, increased sediment movement, and diminished both ecological and historical infrastructure value.

The Challenge Visual: Overcoming Structural & Environmental Deficits & Resolutions ❖ Addressing Environmental Wear: Because sections of the trail sit on a sloped hillside, standard seasonal rainfall naturally accelerates as it flows downhill. Over time, this gravity- driven water runoff gradually cuts into the path and displaces loose topsoil. Securing a dedicated project budget allows us to stabilize this sloped terrain and prevent having a mudslide into homes or businesses. Below is a flow chart illustrating how stormwater from the Kentwood trees and surrounding canopies naturally flows toward Lower Creek. ❖ Expanding Educational Outreach: If we secure support: We can expand the reach of local outdoor learning and environmental stewardship programs. Added resources ensure that families in underserved communities throughout Caldwell County have direct, equal access to hands-on ecological education, like a dire need for local families living in subsidized housing in Lenoir,

NC. Not all neighborhoods have equal access to nature or play, which are critical for a child's health and development. To bridge a portion of this infrastructure gap and create a safe, modern environment for local youth, we must look forward-thinking sustainable technology. By integrating renewable energy directly into our public spaces, we can revitalize our trail networks and enhance community access simultaneously. Resolution Examples: Solar, Wind and Hydro Innovation 1.Bringing Solar Innovation to Kentwood Forest Park and Davenport School: A Sustainable Revolution for Community & Nature by: ❖ Powering the Baseball Community & Afterschool Programming: By introducing solar trees within Kentwood Forest Park and around Davenport, we are setting up a clean, renewable energy anchor built for all students, extra-curricular, and baseball families. This infrastructure directly powers interactive shading stations equipped with device-charging ports where students and families can recharge between tournament games and outdoor learning. 2. Powering Cleaner Air with Student-Led Wind Innovation: A Hands-On Clean Energy Frontier. ❖ Pioneering Eco-Stewardship in Educational Leadership: Highlighting a visible, high-tech commitment to 21st-century environmental stewardship right on the school corridor. By bringing renewable energy and clean energy education outdoors, it empowers students to become active guardians of their community's sustainable future. By connecting kinetic energy directly to real-time environmental metrics, it equips students to lead the charge for healthier air and a resilient community.

3. Harnessing Renewable Energy: ❖ Implementing wind energy solutions through student-led and medium- to low-scale turbines will significantly reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, resulting in a measurable decrease in harmful emissions around Davenport A+ Elementary students, Downtown Lenoir daycares, and the surrounding region. Because this specific part of Lenoir handles heavy downtown traffic driven by postal services, local restaurants, and cross-town commuters—and because the student play area is positioned prominently at the front of the campus—this green infrastructure provides an immediate, vital defense right where children learn and play. Protecting Community Health: This initiative safeguards air quality for students, patients, and residents, reinforcing a shared commitment to a safe, breathable environment for both people and wildlife. Kentwood’s canopy, renewable energy of air, and solar, is only one part of the system. Rain that falls across the forest, and surrounding developed landscape moves downhill into stormwater pathways, wetlands, and Lower Creek. That makes the next chapter—interlock directly with the clean energy power of water. Chapter 4 | Watershed & Wetland Conservation Vital Watershed Sites in Lenoir and Caldwell County Two wetland areas highlighted in this proposal illustrate how urban water infrastructure, wildlife habitat, education, and public stewardship can reinforce one another. ♦ 1200 A Pennton Ave ♦ 180 B Government Way Why Do This Wetland & Other Wetlands Matter in Caldwell County and Around the World? Pennton Avenue Wetland | 1200 A Pennton Ave, Lenoir, North Carolina

The Power of Wetlands: Earth's Living Infrastructure ❖ Natural Water Filtration: Functioning as nature's ultimate water purification system, wetlands intercept runoff to trap pollutants and sediments before they ever reach our groundwater and surface water supplies. ❖ Aquifer Recharge & Drinking Water: These living sponges replenish underground aquifers and regulate the steady flow of pristine water into our rivers and reservoirs, securing a reliable, high-quality drinking water supply for the community. ❖ Thriving Wildlife Habitats: Bursting with biodiversity, wetlands offer vital sanctuaries where birds, fish, amphibians, and pollinators find refuge, food, and breeding grounds. ❖ Ecological Classification: Wetlands come in four primary ecological forms—marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens—and span three broad classifications defined by their origin: marine/coastal, inland, and human-made systems. Site Anatomy: 1200A. Pennton Ave (Man made wetland) The Visual Challenges at the Pennton Avenue Wetland I. Aggressive Cattail Colonization: Over-reproducing native cattails are aggressively colonizing the wetland, resulting in choked water channels and obstructed natural flow. II. Severe Ecosystem Degradation: The habitat is experiencing noticeable degradation, leading to a decline in overall biodiversity and ecological resilience.

Mitigation Example: Designing a Waterwheel ❖ Flow and Circulation: The installation of a waterwheel system at the Pennton Avenue observation deck will demonstrate clean water movement and natural flow dynamics within the wetland. ❖ Habitat and Maintenance Support: Operating alongside efforts to clear invasive cattails and debris, the waterwheel project will aid in restoring natural water conditions, preventing stagnant buildup, and improving overall watershed health for sensitive species such as the Bog Turtle and migratory fowl. ❖ Educational Mitigation: By serving as a hands-on monitoring station for students, the waterwheel will provide ongoing evaluation of water efficiency and ecological impact, fostering active community stewardship to protect Lower Creek and Lake Rhodhiss. STEAM Education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics Test and track the hydropower system's energy output bi-monthly to evaluate how effectively it supports the observation deck's sustainable infrastructure and educates visitors on renewable energy. Supports NC Standards for K-12 students: Math: Measurement Social Studies: Demonstrates simple geographic knowledge Science: Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials Cognitive: Think symbolically- Waterwheels looks like a snowflake. A snowflake is literally a waterwheel.

Below is a class promoting Lenoir, NC clean drinking watershed, supporting conservation and environmental health biodiversity. This will include a student-led waterwheel design model. Sustaining Structural Integrity and Public Safety: While the City of Lenoir has made recent progress by updating parts of the observation deck, critical improvements can still be heightened to ensure complete safety and functionality for visitors and local students. Safety Hazard & Fall Prevention: Unprotected gaps or inadequate railing heights may pose a serious risk, creating a hazard where young children or pets may fall. Addressing this structural vulnerability is essential to guarantee a secure environment for families, students, and community members. Addressing remaining structural gaps and managing the surrounding wetland ecosystem are essential next steps to fully restore this vital community and environmental resource.

Resolution Example #1: Implementing Surplus Street Signs – To be repurposed through R.E.U.S.E. (Repurpose Existing Urban Surplus for Education), a student-led program may have the opportunity to upcycle retired signs into educational art and community stewardship projects, or material to design diverse sculptures. Such as breathing new life into discarded street signs by transforming them into a symbolic, eco- conscious art piece on the observation deck—where once-forgotten metal becomes a reflective tribute to community resilience, local history, and creative renewal, while preventing a fall. Resolution Example #2 Jurassic Park Observation Deck Concept: Integrating a prehistoric educational theme alongside the functional waterwheel may transform this observation deck example into an immersive outdoor learning adventure. Where children can explore ancient ecosystems, native wildlife history, and renewable energy and material side by side. The City of Lenoir Recycling Center is adjacent, using this site as a creditable asset resource.

Community & Visitor Benefits: The Trailhead Landmark Experience: ❖ Boosts Tourism & Local Pride: Creates a signature landmark that sets Lenoir apart, transforming the park into a destination-level community asset. ❖ Transforms the Trail Journey: While walking the current observation trail leaves visitors with an empty endpoint, placing an impressive dinosaur figure and functional hydropower wheel at the trail's end creates an immersive, high-impact climax that rewards the entire trek. ❖ Adds an Interactive Focal Point: Merges engineering and imagination, giving students, families, and visitors a hands-on landmark to explore renewable energy in action. While enjoying holiday gatherings like the 4th of July, outdoor dining from Village Inn, Pelicans, and Celebrations of Dance/Gymnastic Competitions. ❖ Encourages Environmental Stewardship: Connects vital watershed conservation with creative, unforgettable education, proving that ecological preservation and imaginative community design can co-exist. Wetland Management & Community Stewardship ❖ Sustainable Innovation: Incorporate recycled materials into stormwater wetland projects to promote eco-friendly creativity and enhance natural habitats. ❖ Regular Maintenance & Safety: Set up routine schedules to manage cattail populations, inspect the observation of deck safety, support wildlife food sources, and ensure prompt debris removal.

❖ Community Engagement: Foster a sense of ownership and stewardship through educational programs, workshops, and outreach campaigns focused on water quality protection. ❖ Local Partnerships: Collaborate with recycling programs and local businesses to source sustainable materials, strengthen community ties, and foster shared environmental responsibility. Call to Action: To support neighboring businesses that surround the wetland and depend on clean water gates. Pelican Snoballs , Village Inn, Members Credit Union, Starsteps/ Gymnastics, Bernhardt Furniture, Auto Zone, Western Carolina Family Dentistry, M7 Bad Boy Equipment, Caldwell Soil and Water. Why Do This Wetland & other Wetlands Matter in Caldwell County and Around the World? 180B Government Way / Lenoir, North Carolina From that initial wetland basin, the water crosses the street into Lower Creek to pick up the secondary wetland situated near the Caldwell Health Department, the Animal Shelter, RHA, and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, before channeling into Lake Rhodhiss . Water System & Wetland Goals – Caldwell's Animal Shelter Backyard) • Bio-Purification: Enhance natural purification processes to eliminate pollutants and protect local drinking water sources. • Waste Reduction: Minimize plastic waste accumulation in the wetland ecosystem. Visible Challenges of Caldwell County Stormwater Wetland 1. Accumulation of plastic and Styrofoam waste 2. Potential exposure to animal waste runoff. 3. Ongoing loss of natural habitats/ drying up

4. Signage debris Watershed Vulnerability: This tight spatial arrangement showing below highlights the watershed's natural vulnerability. Proximity & Runoff Management: Due to close quarters between local facilities and the wetland ecosystem, managing surface runoff is a priority. While the Animal Shelter practices caution such as fencing and tarps may be utilized, other significant environmental factors—including heavy rainfall, urban drainage patterns, and wildlife activity—also contribute to the area's nutrient levels. Critical Ecological Urgency: The drying up of this vital basin and the subsequent loss of its aquatic life—including the fish populations it once sustained—elevates this site from a routine maintenance project to an urgent community priority. Restoring this channel in front of the Health Department is critical to prevent further erosion, protecting residents, safeguarding our clean drinking water gates, and bringing life back to an ecosystem in immediate need of reinsurance. Consider this & Why Source Control Matters: Together we can help do our part to reduce ❖ The Impact of Pet Waste: Left on sidewalks or public grounds, pet waste can severely affect our local water supply system when washed into nearby wetlands.

❖ Pathogens & Public Health: This runoff introduces harmful pathogens—leading to health risks such as Salmonella and E. coli—and creates significant environmental and water quality challenges. ❖ Lower Creek and its receiving body: Lake Rhodhiss, are on North Carolina’s 2006 303(d) list of impaired waters. Zack’s Fork, Greasy Creek, Bristol Creek, and Spainhour Creek are major tributaries within the Lower Creek watershed and are also on the 303(d) list. (Department of Environmental Quality,n.d.) Mitigation Infrastructure Example: 1. Implementing robust, USDA-approved Surface Flow systems is still essential for protecting downstream water quality. ❖ Why It Is More Critical Than Ever: This intervention is needed now more than ever. Because the wetland has dried up and lost its natural buffering capacity, runoff from surrounding areas moves directly into the drainage channel without biological filtration, threatening Lower Creek and clean drinking water gates. ❖ Investing in this will benefit Caldwell County because it is the only one used and approved by USDA -National Resource Conservation Services. “The advantage of SF is having the ability to efficiently treat high strength wastes from animal waste lagoons and other pretreatment facilities.” (NESPIS.gov,1991) 2. Infrastructure & Public Health Synergy Example: Implementing an oversized plastic bottle disposal model for recycling. The placement of a heart shaped or bottle-shaped disposal container near the Health Department creates a powerful constructive collaboration between municipal services, public health, and environmental stewardship, showing how cross-departmental cooperation protects community drinking water gateways.

Call to action: Caldwell National Gurad, West Caldwell, Gamewell Middle and Elementary Students 3. Educational & Environmental Harmony: ● Designed to reflect local wetland wildlife and literacy themes, these custom seating pieces invite visitors, staff, and children under pressure with an adult to pause, reflect, and connect with the natural landscape right outside the Department of Social Services. Chapter 5| Community Resilience, Health & Equitable Access Connecting Our Neighborhoods and Distributed Park Systems into a Compact & NC Eco State Park System This brings us directly to the final, vital link of our local corridor: The West Lenoir Playground. The journey of Kentwood compact and other park systems expands beyond water filtration to bridge environmental health with active community life. While the upstream

wetlands work to protect our physical environment, these spaces should be revamped to safeguard our social infrastructure. By restrengthening or designing safe, equitable play areas right alongside these thriving natural systems, we ensure that environmental education and healthy recreation live side-by-side for generations to come. Again, Kentwood, The Observation Deck /Wetlands, The Government Way Wetlands, and the West Lenoir Playground are in various parts of the community, but on the same side of the city and county. The proposal connects them through a shared purpose: protect water, strengthen resilience and local history, while making nature more accessible and inviting for all. Community Forged Through Resilience: Welcome to West Lenoir Elementary School Landmark: West Lenoir is a community defined by a decade of extraordinary grit, weathering a "triple threat" that began with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the closing of the school in 2022, the wreckage of Hurricane Helene in 2024, and the flooding of Hurricane Isisas in 2026. For years, children living in this area alone have faced a handful of silent crises of vital education, development, and missed opportunities. If leaving this gap untreated it will threaten the workforce and everyday living. This view now has become children and their families new normal, while young children continually watch the sink hole get bigger. Making this area alone a nature deprived community. Play is Power: Every individual, regardless of their community's socio-economic status, deserves access to safe and engaging play/ green space. By transforming greenspaces into wealth and creating innovative playgrounds, we can ensure that all human beings may have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. This initiative not only enhances the power of play, but also promotes equality and inclusivity, reinforcing the notion that play is a fundamental right for every person.

Circular Economy Example: Recycled Athletic Shoes. 1. Waste: Recycled athletic shoes (collected through our ongoing community shoe drives dedicated specifically to the West Lenoir Playground project and its future down payment) 2. Wealth: Permeable Basketball Court Surfacing and safe impact-absorbing play zones. Investing in the Future: Proactive Public Health & Resilience: Overcoming Cumulative Crises ❖ Healing from Cumulative Trauma: Investing in this restoration directly supports the physical and mental well-being of local families who have endured the heavy cumulative tolls of the COVID-19 pandemic, permanent school closure with families still living in the neighborhood, and the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. ❖ Restoring Essential Sanctuary: Providing immediate access to vibrant, healing natural spaces is a vital public health intervention, offering children and families a safe, outdoor sanctuary to rebuild community resilience and recover from recent regional hardships.

A Scalable Vision for Underserved Youth: If site limitations prevent full implementation at the West Lenoir site, this framework is fully adaptable to another neighboring community space as an alternative. We can replicate this model by reusing the space currently designated for recycling Hurricane Hellene debris—transforming post-disaster recovery into a permanent, dedicated eco-park for underserved children. (College Ave, Virginia St, Lenoir, NC) Investing in accessible parks and green spaces creates lasting value: healthier communities, stronger connections, and a more sustainable future for everyone. Call to action – To support disproportionately neighborhoods; Caldwell County Smart Start, Communities in School, Caldwell Opportunities, Lenoir Housing Authority, Fairfield, Unity Gardens, Local Churches, and Google

From the Nile River to Lower Creek: The Sphinx of Hibriten Monuments of the Watershed: Connecting Global Mimicry and Local Heritage. Honoring the natural sculpture/ thing that stood here before the storm and the steadfast silhouette of Hibriten Mountain in the background, this project seizes the opportunity to reimagine creative art and bring that inspiring landmark back to life. By utilizing sustainable upcycling and thoughtful ecological design, we restore a cherished community feature while transforming the site into a resilient hub for eco-tourism and hands-on environmental stewardship that heightens Unity Gardens located right behind it. The Global Parallel: Just as the Great Sphinx stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt—about 6 miles southwest of Cairo—our community’s living Sphinx and green resilience hub anchors the vital corridor at the corner of College Avenue and Virginia Street, right along the Lower Creek watershed on Morganton Blvd in Lenoir, North Carolina.

With Hibriten Mountain in the background. Chapter 6 | Health + Education: A Shared Green-Infrastructure Opportunity Circling back around Kentwood, we want to introduce the UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital. This initiative creates an immediate bridge between wellness and learning. UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital and local mental health services can leverage the park as a therapeutic space, promoting human wellness through quality outdoor recreation while lowering our carbon footprint. This effort encourages the Kentwood district of the City of Lenoir to become a "Breathe Easy Community." Every day and night, downtown traffic, local restaurants, and postal service vehicles emit pollution that directly changes our most vulnerable neighbors—including Davenport Elementary students, local daycare attendees, and homeschool children. By introducing wind turbines, we can significantly reduce these emissions. This initiative is not about protecting our children's future; it is a vital step toward safeguarding the health of everyone in our community. The urgency could not be higher. The longer we delay action, the faster dangerous urban heat islands will multiply across our local neighborhoods. This burden falls heaviest on lower- income, Black, and Latinx families, such as those living around West Lenoir Elementary School and neighboring communities serving as prime examples of where intervention is needed most.

To all stakeholders, we must act now to ensure that environmental justice, climate resilience, and clean air/water are guaranteed for every resident of Lenoir, from our downtown core to our furthest municipal borders. The High-Country Blueprint for Caldwell County: Where a school, a hospital, and a park intertwines: We aim to build on proven ideas and adapt them to help meet our community’s needs. For instance, our neighbors in the North Carolina High Country are already successfully utilizing school-based wind technology to power classrooms. Positioned directly between Appalachian State University’s campuses, Lenoir is uniquely situated to tap into the region's premier sustainable energy resources. By building a powerful local partnership between App State’s technical programs, Caldwell County Schools, and UNC Health Caldwell, we can bridge the gap between education, healthcare, and environmental action. Together, we can transform Lenoir into a model hub of hospital-backed wellness, municipal innovation, and true environmental resilience. Community Benefit/Environmental Improvement alignment, To bring this vision to life, this project offers an innovative opportunity to align with UNC Health Caldwell’s ongoing Community Benefit and population health reinvestments. By framing this initiative through established healthcare reinvestment criteria, we can prove direct alignment across several key pillar examples: ❖ Upstream Preventative Care: Clinical integration of sustainable energy infrastructure directly reflects modern population health models. By introducing wind technology to reduce localized emissions, we actively combat chronic pediatric and patient conditions—including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular strain, and airborne allergy exacerbations- which disproportionately affect vulnerable families in Caldwell County. ❖ Neighborhood Health & Community Well-Being: Aligning with UNC Health's commitment to caring holistically for local communities and improving everyday quality of life outside traditional clinical walls. ❖ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): This initiative provides hospital leadership with a tangible, high-impact local project that directly fulfills their core mission to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce community illness burdens. By supporting a joint clean-air and educational project, UNC Health Caldwell can set up a statewide benchmark for hospital-backed environmental justice and climate resilience.

Letter of Endorsement- Healthcare This image below illustrates: Healthy Parks Healthy People: Kentwood Park, in partnership with UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital Caldwell County Schools, and App State, is a symbol of environmental stewardship and community resilience into fruition. Together, these three foundational pillars unite to optimize the wind and water for Lenoir, creating a seamless partnership dedicated to environmental justice, innovative education, and preventative healthcare Through the restoration of this park, we are working to improve air and water quality for all who visit. The trees around us serve as living examples of how nature enhances our well-being with STEM education added, while at the same time supporting the

physical and mental health of the community for all. If we look at this under federal IRS tax-exempt guidelines (Form 990, Schedule H), non-profit health systems are explicitly encouraged to support community-building activities that target environmental improvements and the social determinants of health (IRS.gov). Rather than a traditional public relations or marketing sponsorship, a structural investment in stabilizing these green corridors with clean energy technology will act as a proactive health and economic intervention that will help re- ensure the Western North Carolina foothills region. This multi- purpose project provides a tangible, high-impact channel for the hospital to fulfill its community wellness goals while simultaneously serving as a massive economic driver for Caldwell and surrounding area families. By investing in these shared ecosystems, we are: ❖ Cooling urban heat islands and filtering hidden emissions to protect vulnerable citizens and diverse neighborhoods. ❖ Fostering a resilient landscape that drives hands-on student STEM engagement and displays visible frontline workforce innovation. ❖ Directly increasing neighborhood desirability and residential property values for local homeowners. Upgrading this space into a zero-impact green /blue asset elevates local curb appeal and transforms the Kentwood residential district into one of Lenoir's most sought-after, health-conscious communities.

Chapter 7 | Eco - Dollar Investments Tapping the Trillion-Dollar Eco-Tourism Economy 1. This foundational local investment taps into a booming multi-trillion-dollar global eco- tourism and nature-based experience economy, proving that grassroots environmental restoration yields massive economic and community returns. Scaling this localized commitment directly aligns with major corporate and technological climate goals— echoing multi-billion-dollar corporate commitments to achieve zero-carbon operations, water replenishment, and resilient green infrastructure by 2030 (Google, & Sirona Technologies, 2025). A Zero-Cost Community Investment: 2. This project requires zero out-of-pocket capital or fundraising from residents. It is built entirely on external institutional reinvestment—using state and federal watershed grants, regional land trust resources, municipal capital improvement funds, and private-sector partnerships to finance the entire initiative from the outside in. THE GOOGLE CATALYST: ALIGNING WITH A $1 BILLION LEGACY 3. Google’s recent $1 Billion investment in our local infrastructure is a global signal that Lenoir, North Carolina, is a hub for innovation. However, corporate investment requires Community Equity to be sustainable. The Lenoir Resiliency Accord provides the "High-Visibility" partnership Google seeks for their 2030 Water Stewardship and Community Equity mandates. ● (Unity): Google is not just "in" Lenoir; Lenoir is part of their residency. By connecting Kentwood and The Wetlands into a unified linear green network—alongside our goal to help bring a revitalized West Lenoir STEAM-improved play space to life—to Google’s workforce development goals, we aren't just asking for a grant; we are building a pipeline.

This is our moment to transform decades of lost ground into generational gains. We invite our municipal leaders, healthcare partners, and corporate allies to step forward and seize this unmatched opportunity to secure Lenoir’s future—starting today. The "Eco-Dollar" Advantage & "Circular Economy" Material List 4. Our goal is not to spend aggressively, but rather to generate profound value from what we already have—or what we can repurpose. Every "Eco-Dollar" invested across these sites yields a triple return for Lenoir and across NC: economic vitality, environmental health, and community resilience. If this vision were to become a reality, here is what is truly possible through a closed-loop "Circular Economy" Material List: Infrastructure Asset Example: Waste becomes Wealth. 1. Waste: Retired City Street Signs 2. Wealth: ADA Trail Markers and directional signage. Strategic Alignment & Fiscal Partnership The Foundation & Local Equity 5. Our initiative is already "banked" with five years of professional investment. As of August 2026, Changing Soles has contributed a total value of $71,075 in certified in-kind service, establishing the local match equity required by major grant-makers. Professional Service Ledger for 2021–2026 Date Range Professional Service / Deliverable Category Total Value 2021 – 2022 Post-COVID Play Equity Audit: Documenting the impact of the "Shut out" on West Lenoir youth. Advocacy/Data $12,500

2023 – 2024 Post-Hurricane Infrastructure Mapping: Identifying and monitoring the Pennton Ave / West Lenoir sinkhole. Emergency Mgmt. $18,300 2025 – 2026 Resiliency Accord: Strategy, Grant Mapping, & Stakeholder Negotiation. Project Mgmt. $40,275 TOTAL REPORTED IN-KIND SERVICE VALUE $71,075 The Feasible Data & Impact ❖ The Impaired Waters Mandate: Lower Creek is officially listed on North Carolina's 303(d) impaired waters list. Natural wetland pre-filtration gives agencies a measurable, shovel-ready target for sediment and pollutant reduction. ❖ The Health Shield: The site sits directly behind Davenport A+ School and across from UNC Caldwell Memorial Hospital, creating an immediate, high-density human and environmental health impact zone. ❖ Unlocking Major Grants Together: Because this project targets corporate water replenishment goals (such as net-zero water frameworks) and national conservation funding (such as NFWF Urban Waters grants), it is built to draw external capital. ❖ The Call for Institutional Backing: This grassroots, student-centered initiative seeks an established 501(c)(3) fiscal partner or corporate sponsor to help with funding administration, project development, and accountability. Chapter 8| Safeguarding the Trail Investing in the revitalization of Kentwood Park is not merely a park improvement project; it is an intentional strategy to secure Lenoir’s economic, cultural, and educational future. While independent initiatives for historical preservation, economic growth, and tech education often compete for separate funding streams, Kentwood Park blends them into a single, high-yield asset. 1. Safeguarding and Capitalizing on the Overmountain Victory Trail The National Park Service's upcoming downtown corridor for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) will bring a steady stream of regional and national heritage tourists into the heart of Lenoir.

• The Challenge: Leaving this green space underutilized risks disconnecting Lenoir from a major national corridor, missing a rare opportunity to boost the creditable history and long-term prestige of our downtown landscape. • The Solution: Supporting Kentwood Park ensures the city has a vibrant, fully accessible gateway that seamlessly absorbs trail travelers, encouraging them to walk to local businesses, visit the Caldwell Heritage Museum, and spend money in historic downtown Lenoir. 2. Fulfilling the Caldwell Arts Council’s Vision for Cross-Sector Innovation The Caldwell Arts Council’s endorsement proves that local cultural leadership looks at Kentwood Park as a master canvas for community building. By leveraging the arts to visually anchor a scientific environment, Kentwood transforms from a standard recreational park into a multi-dimensional cultural landmark. This creative infrastructure signals to new families and prospective businesses that Lenoir is an innovative, forward-thinking community. 3. Breaking Barriers: Transforming Local Youth into Future Innovators The most critical reason to support Kentwood right now is its direct proximity to Davenport A+ Elementary and its focus on K-12 STEAM education. • Closing the Gap: Women and people of color remain starkly underrepresented in engineering, computer science, and coding sectors. • The Power of the Outdoor Classroom: By establishing an open-access, hands-on natural science lab, Kentwood Park normalizes tech, math, and critical thinking at an early age. It empowers girls and underrepresented students with the teamwork, curiosity, and spatial skills required to confidently pursue high-paying, non-traditional careers. Why Support it Even the More? The Bottom Line: A dollar invested in Kentwood Park simultaneously protects our historical roots, provides a critical pedestrian buffer zone for local conservation, upgrades downtown infrastructure for public health, and actively trains the next generation of North Carolina's tech workforce. We are not just building a park—we are building a destination. Letter of Endorsement: Girls in Coding, The Arts, Over Mountain Victory Trail

Significant Natural and Cultural Value: The Kentwood & Wetlands Ecosystem By combining the Kentwood property with the adjacent Wetlands, Lenoir secures a highly valuable community asset. This unified space directly intersects the town's environmental, institutional, and cultural pillars: Category Local Assets & Ecosystems Strategic Value to Lenoir Environment Wetlands habitat for the NC Bog Turtle, Red- cockaded Woodpecker, and Dragon’s Mouth Orchid. Sanctuary for flora/fauna surviving Hurricane Helene. Conservation: Protects rare ecosystems and matches state land and water grant priorities. Scenic Beauty Overlooks connecting Hibriten Mountain, Lower Creek, and a proposed wetlands observation deck. Wellness: Provides quiet, therapeutic spaces for mental health and relaxation. History Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Dr. Alfred Kent Sr.,and St. James Episcopal Church (1865 Civil War hospital/prison site). Preservation: Anchors Lenoir's "creditable history" and regional heritage education. Public Health Neighboring Caldwell UNC Health Care and the Caldwell County Health Department. Community: Acts as a walkable, restorative green space for healthcare staff and patients. Education Caldwell Heritage Museum and Caldwell County Schools (Davenport A+). STEAM Lab: Serves as a hands- on, outdoor classroom for local K-12 students.

Recreation Walking trails, picnic areas, and Walker Stadium (Caldwell Community College Baseball). Activity: Blends active team sports with low-impact family leisure spaces. Chapter 9| The Compact Park Vision: Protecting Land, Water, and Legacy From Local Stewardship to State-Level Protection: Building on the financial framework and circular asset ledger corridors, this broader vision would bring the distributed sites together under a designated compact state park. That designation could provide a lasting legal, financial, and ecological framework to protect the Lower Creek watershed—positioning it as a benchmark environmental asset for the Western North Carolina foothills while honoring the Kent family’s generations of public health and civic leadership. Statewide Historical Connections Civic and medical infrastructure; transportation and industry; architectural and educational heritage.  Dr. Alfred Abraham Kent: November 2, 1858–August 11, 1944 Caldwell County Native, NC Legislator, Industrialist, Pharmacist, Manufacturer, dedicated 43 years as a Certified Gynecologist Pioneering Milestones & Historical Impact ❖ 1896 – Founding Public Health Infrastructure: Instrumental in establishing the Caldwell Medical Society—the foundational bedrock that evolved into the Caldwell

Health Department of 1970—bringing structured, localized medical care and public health advocacy to the region. ❖ 1905 – Industrial Innovation: Founded Kent Furniture initially, then Co- founded Kent- Coffey Furniture Company with Finely Coffey, emerging as a foundational pioneer in Lenoir’s historic furniture manufacturing industry and driving economic vitality throughout Western North Carolina. ❖ 1911 – Championing Equity and Inclusion: Instituted the Caswell Training Center, known as the Caswell Developmental Center (Kinston, NC), securing a landmark advancement as one of the state's earliest organized educational and residential frameworks dedicated to individual’s education with severe developmental disabilities. ❖ 1911 – Statewide Preventative Health Mandate: Successfully championed legislation requiring preventative eye drops for newborns across North Carolina—a visionary public health protocol that predated global standards for neonatal care. ❖ 1911 – Legislative Leadership and Infrastructure Appropriations: Served with distinction as President of the North Carolina Medical Society, leveraging his legislative influence to secure critical state funding. His appropriations delivered vital, clean water supply infrastructure to major public institutions, including the North Carolina School for the Deaf and Broughton Hospital in Morganton. Call to Action: Join the Kentwood Hub Coalition To bring the Kentwood Park, Wetlands, West Lenoir / Alternative playground revitalization to life, we are calling on federal, state, local, and private partners to join this cross-sector coalition. We invite our allies to activate support across the following primary development pathways: Sector & Focus Target Partners & Allies Actionable Request / Alignment Historic Preservation • National Park Service •NC Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources • NC State Historic Preservation Office Incorporate the OVNHT Footprint: Help fund and certify the park as a protected, academic checkpoint along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail network. Conservation & Engineering • Foothills Conservancy • US Army Corps of Engineers • Western Piedmont Council of Governments Protect the Watershed: Partner on stream-buffer management, flood resilience, and low-impact infrastructure design for the contiguous wetlands. Education & Workforce • Caldwell County Schools (Davenport A+) • Caldwell Build the Outdoor Classroom: Collaborate on K-12 curriculum design, internships, and field research initiatives centering on natural sciences and STEAM.

Community College & Technical Institute (CCCTI) • Appalachian State University Public Health & Community • Caldwell UNC Health Care • Caldwell County & City of Lenoir Promote Wellness & Local Pride: Integrate the green space into public health walking tracks, employee respite plans, and community wellness programs. Corporate Innovation • Google • Duke Energy Foundation Invest in Tomorrow’s Tech Workforce: Sponsor technology infrastructure, solar energy learning stations, and equity grants for girls and underrepresented youth in coding. How You Can Partner We welcome your organization's expertise, resources, and alignment. Together, we can transform this unique property into a model for regional historic preservation, environmental education, and workforce development. Water & Buffer Security: Protection of priority increases: The land serves as a crucial riparian buffer that purifies drinking water for downstream communities. According to an illustration in the Caldwell County history book, Dr. A. A. Kent Sr. dredged 15 miles of Lower Creek to secure clean water for the residents of Lenoir and Morganton, North Carolina. Source: Lenoir Library Linked to Dr. Alfred A. Kent's dedication to civic health, this historic water infrastructure still stands today at the original site of the North Carolina School for the Blind and Deaf. It remains a silent testament to early engineering efforts that safeguarded public health and modernized the community across Burke and Caldwell counties.

Historic resources/sites associated with persons of exceptional importance in North Carolina's historical narrative 1. Broughton Hospital and School for the Deaf (Morganton, NC) - Legal Water Rights Appropriation – A. A. Kent Sr. 2. Caldwell County, NC Sheriff Department- Procedural justice, military service, and leadership. Horatio Miller Kent 3. Caldwell Medical Society advanced into Caldwell Health Department (first mentioned healthcare in Caldwell County) Dr. A. A. Kent Sr, Dr. A.A.Kent Jr, and Lena Evelyn Kent 4. Caswell Developmental Center (Kinston, NC)- Fair education – A. A. Kent Sr. 5. Catawba Water Basin (Lower Creek Dredge. Caldwell, Burke County) A.A. Kent Sr. 6. Fairfield Furniture - (formerly Kent /Coffey Furniture, Lenoir, NC) -First green job 7. North Carolina Medical Society (Raleigh, NC)- President – Dr. A. A. Kent Sr. 8. William Shufford Recreation Erected- Parks and Rec – Granite Falls, NC- First Woman Mayor Lena Evelyn Kent Continued Archive of the Kent Family  Dr. Alfred Abraham Kent Jr-October 23, 1905–November 07, 1975 The Legacy of Dr. Alfred Kent Jr.: Physician, Horticulturist, and Community Leader To understand why the Kentwood Hub supports history so deeply, we must look to the legacy of Dr. Alfred Kent Jr. His lifetime of public service perfectly blended regional healthcare with environmental stewardship—creating the exact blueprint that the Kentwood Park and Wetlands project aims to honor today. Professional Affiliations & Community Leadership • Medical Associations: Active member of the Catawba Valley Medical Society, Southern Medical Association, and American Medical Association. • Civic Leadership: Charter member of the Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce, Granite Falls Rotary Club, and Granite Falls Trade Association.

• Public Health Advocate: Director of the Caldwell Cancer Society and member of the Caldwell Heart Association. • Faith & Horticulture: Trustee of the First Methodist Church of Granite Falls and charter member of the North Carolina Orchid Society. Rotary Alignment: Dr. Kent's extensive public service directly reflects Rotary International's core pillars of Disease Prevention and Treatment and Community Economic Development. Public Health Milestones & Horticultural Conservation Focus Area Historical Impact & Milestones Modern Preservation Alignment County Health Leadership Joined the Caldwell County Board of Health in 1936, serving as its medical leader until October 1, 1970. He helped organize the joint Burke-Caldwell Health Department, establishing the cornerstone of modern regional healthcare. The Health Connection: Aligns with the nearby Caldwell UNC Health Care campus and county wellness initiatives. Epidemic Response Served as medical adviser for the Caldwell County Polio Society. During a critical polio outbreak, he organized a specialized clinic for Lovelady Township to administer gamma globulin to all local children. Community Care: Establishes a profound historical precedent for proactive public wellness, proving how local leadership and community infrastructure can pivot quickly to protect and serve vulnerable populations in times of crisis. Horticultural Stewardship An expert orchid hobbyist who possessed a deep understanding of native botany. He studied fragile local ecosystems and rare, sensitive native species—such as possibly the endangered Dragon's Mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa). Wetlands Preservation: This rare orchid blooms briefly around May before disappearing for the year, mirroring the exact, fragile wetlands environment we are safeguarding today. Call to Action: Mobilizing Our Heritage Partners To honor Dr. Kent’s foundational contributions to public health and botany, we call upon our local health, civic, and historical organizations to join the Kentwood Hub Coalition. We invite these specific allies to activate support through the following channels: • Caldwell County Health & Environmental Department: Partner with us to design wellness trails that build upon Dr. Kent’s 34-year legacy of public health leadership. • Caldwell Soil and Water Conservation District: Provide technical guidance to restore the wetlands, ensuring the safe habitat of the native flora and orchids he deeply cared for. • The Rotary Clubs of Caldwell County: Champion the outdoor classroom project to fulfill Rotary’s global commitment to Community Development and Disease Prevention. • Granite Falls History Museum: Collaborate on historical exhibits and archiving Dr. Kent’s medical and horticultural papers to ensure his "creditable history" is preserved for future generations.

• First United Methodist Church of Granite Falls: Connect our shared history and community outreach to foster a spirit of civic unity, environmental stewardship, and quiet reflection.  Madam Lena Evelyn Helen Kent - May 22,1911- January 25,1999 Role: The Legacy of Mayor Kent: First Female Mayor & Community Champion To fully appreciate how the Kentwood Hub supports history, this proposal elevates the trailblazing legacy of Mayor Kent (wife of Dr. Alfred Kent Jr.). Her visionary leadership redefined public service in Caldwell County, setting an enduring benchmark for structural modernization, youth advocacy, and pioneering civic governance that underpins this entire revitalization project. Professional Affiliations & Pioneering Governance • Historic Mayoral Office: Elected as the first female mayor of Granite Falls, serving from 1952 to 1954. Notably, she was the state's only active female mayor at the time. • Civic & Public Health Boards: Served on the Board of Commissioners for the Caldwell Health Department and the Board of Commissioners for Granite Falls (1938–1950). • Educational Advocacy: Dedicated a decade to the Board of Commissioners for the Lenoir Public Library (1950–1960). • Faith & Community Leadership: Active district leader for the North Carolina Girl Scouts and a committed member of the First United Methodist Church. Foundational Education: She was educated at the Craven County Farm Life School, the very first institution of its kind established after the Farm Life School Law passed the North Carolina State Legislature in March 1911. This milestone legislation was championed by her father-in- law, Dr. Alfred A. Kent Sr., who also helped establish the Caswell Developmental Center. Public Health Milestones & Youth Infrastructure Focus Area Historical Impact & Milestones Modern Project Alignment

Historic Mayoral Leadership Captured a decisive 77 percent of the popular vote to become Granite Falls' first woman mayor, breaking significant political barriers in North Carolina history. Boosting Creditable History: Sets a powerful local precedent of leadership, matching our focus on civic innovation. Municipal & Public Health Spearheaded vital modernization projects, including upgrading town water/sewage systems, purchasing a new fire engine, and successfully eliminating all outdoor toilets within city limits. Sanitation & Health: Directly mirrors the project's goals of improving community wellness and watershed health. Youth Advocacy & Recreation Invested heavily in the next generation as an early NC Girl Scout District Leader and a 10-year library board member. Her advocacy directly paved the way for enacting the William B. Shuford Recreation Center. The Outdoor Classroom: Directly inspires our plan to build hands-on STEAM spaces that empower girls in science and coding. Call to Action: Engaging Our Heritage Allies To honor Mayor Kent's transformative impact on literacy, faith, and women's leadership, we invite our regional civic organizations to join the Kentwood Hub Coalition: • Friends of the Library: Partner with us to extend literacy outdoors by integrating nature-based reading trails and historical storytelling spaces into the park. • Local Faith Communities (First United Methodist): Collaborate on outreach initiatives that bridge local history with community stewardship, promoting a shared space for reflection. • Women's Clubs & Civic Organizations: Join our efforts to champion the STEAM outdoor classroom, creating targeted learning spaces designed to empower underrepresented youth and girls in engineering. Book: Etched of Granite Falls - Dr. Alfred Kent Jr., Wife First Female Mayor - Evelyn Kent Building upon that legacy, it is now our turn to carry the torch forward adapting those original roots to meet the modern ecological, educational, and wellness needs of our community for the next generation. Transitioning from these vital community goals, we honor the deep roots of the land through the historical archive of the Kent family below. Honoring Past Visionaries: While someone else had a powerful vision for Kentwood and fulfilled it 30 years ago, that foundational blueprint paved the way for where we stand today trying to move forward.

The letter reads: The Davenport Nature Park This property was a jungle, a dump, and home for the homeless. Upon receiving permission from the board of Education to construct a park, we began the work. Construction began on June 9, 1996, using correctional inmates as labor. Funds for material were raised through a senior citizen's breakfast club, Kentwood residents, and business organizations. The city maintenance department furnished transportation for material and hauling off debris. With this teamwork we were able to construct nature trails, the amphitheater, enlarge the parking area, and erect a memorial to Dr. Alfred A. Kent. Signed by Dr. Thomas McNeil. Source: Caldwell Heritage Museum. The Ancestral Foundation of Kentwood Kentwood sketched by Jim Steels- Kentwood was built 1903 by Dr. Alfred Abraham Kent Sr. and his wife Annie French Wright. The home was burned in the mid 1960’s. Kentwood is the original birthplace of all of Dr. A.A Kent Sr his children, and the death place of his wife Annie FrenchWright. Source: The Heritage of Caldwell County, Volume 1 Strategic Alignment: North Carolina Forest Service This comprehensive vision is anchored by strong community partnerships, with ongoing outreach and active endorsements from key cross-sector allies: • Conservation Leadership: North Carolina Forest Service.

This growing endorsement reflects a unified commitment to enhancing local ecological health, education, and community value. Below is the strategic alignment plan from the NC Forest Service: Sustainable Timeline of Kentwood Chapter 10 Strategic Value for Caldwell County Schools

Academic Alignment & Educational Framework: G.R.O.W. & P.O.W.E.R. Organized under the twin initiatives G.R.O.W. (Green Renewal through Outdoor Wellness) and P.O.W.E.R. (Promoting Outdoor Wellness & Environmental Renewal), this program serves as an active, collaborative support system for local classrooms. Rather than adding extra administrative or teaching burdens, this framework directly bridges standardized classroom lessons into real-world, hands-on field experiences right here in the Lenoir community. Core Frameworks & Professional Credentials Educational Element Framework & Certification Integration with Caldwell County Schools Curriculum Alignment Project WILD (Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies) Interdisciplinary, classroom-tested conservation activities that fit seamlessly into the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. National Standards Nature Champion Methodologies (National Environmental Education Foundation - NEEF) Proven national strategies utilized to turn outdoor green spaces into high-functioning learning environments. Academic Foundation B.S. in Educational Studies & Applied Science (Grand Canyon University) Academic training specifically focused on translating complex environmental science concepts into K-12 pedagogy. The Strategic Advantage for Educators Because Caldwell County Schools already utilize these standard learning tracts, this initiative serves as a plug-and-play extension for educators. Utilizing my academic background and specialized training, I act as an external instructional partner—helping local teachers shift their students from a traditional indoor setting into a living, outdoor laboratory.

Infrastructure STEM Asset Example: Waste becomes Wealth. ● Waste: Dead trees and fallen timber Kentwood, the Park of Many Colors, and the other distribute parks are good candidates that can introduce students to species around the world through technology and mimicry. Discretion: Wild animals do exist; our goal is to enhance animal habitats not to destroy them. Do not approach wild animals. This is for educational purposes. ● Asset: Sustainable Woodland Sculptures: Repurposing dead trees and fallen timber with eco- friendly paint to craft interactive natural play elements, fostering youth imagination, outdoor art, and environmental literacy using Eco-paint to create natural sculpture elements to encourage youth play, outdoor art, literacy, and imaginative learning. Through interactive discovery: students may have the opportunity to interact with QR code markers placed on designated trees, linking local habitat care to global biodiversity and bridging local fieldwork with global conservation science. Down below shows pictures of life like examples which lead us to our next chapter.

Chapter 11| Guarding North Carolina's Lifelines: Local Waters, Global Stakes, Watershed Continues Did you know healthy watersheds do more than prevent local flooding—they serve as the vital life support system for some of the rarest freshwater ecosystems on Earth. By safeguarding our local streams and riparian buffers, we protect fragile aquatic habitats that mirror the urgent conservation needs found across our state. Spotlight on North Carolina Native Endangered Species: The Magnificent Ramshorn Snail North Carolina is home to extraordinary biodiversity, including regional imperiled species such as the native Magnificent Ramshorn Snail. This remarkable freshwater snail is endemic, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world outside of the lower Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina. It is included here as a statewide conservation of mimicry and a teaching example, not as a species known to occur in Kentwood. With Q-R coding, this idea can be a part of Kentwood’s STEM tracking if it comes into fruition. ● Conservation Status: The species is believed to be extirpated from the wild and currently survives only in tightly managed captive populations within the state. ● Threats to Survival: Its dramatic decline stems primarily from severe habitat loss, driven by urbanization, stormwater runoff contaminants, and the degradation of protective riparian buffers. Mimicry Snail Tree in Kentwood:

Inspired by the imaginative visual storytelling of Karin Åkesson's children's literature, this interactive outdoor installation brings whimsical wonder into the natural landscape. Nestled within Kentwood: The Park of Many Colors, the Snail Tree serves as a living canvas that blends youth art, literacy, and environmental observation to spark curiosity and connection for every visitor. Federal Status: Endangered State Status: Endangered Current NC Range: Lower Cape Fear River Basin - North Carolina Its educational appeal, as young readers follow a brave little creature’s exciting adventure while learning the colors of the rainbow, will make this a popular picture book with educators, librarians, and parents. The Value of Proxy Studies: Utilizing North Caolina or around the world species as educational touchstones teaches critical concepts of adaptation, water quality vulnerability, and conservation stewardship without requiring local residency. Another example is on the other side of the same tree mimicking a bear. It looks like its arms spreaded. Using eco-paint and bringing the mimic feature to life will heighten community ecology knowledge of the black bear across NC. The black bear is the only bear species found in North Carolina or anywhere in the eastern United States. Discretion: Do not get close to or approach a bear, if you see one report it to the authorities. This is for creative art and educational purposes. Picture source:(Outer Banks, North Carolina & Nags Head Beach, North Carolina, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, 2023).

Eco-Mathematica: Integrated Environmental Sanctuary Combining Kentwood Park, the surrounding wetlands, and designing a new playground destination creates Eco-Mathematica—a STEAM-based cultural and ecotourism sanctuary designed to enhance public well-being through: R.e.a.c.h and T.h.i.n.k of a compact state park and while creating interactive models for environmental topics like climate change. Regional Resilience, Watershed Stewardship, and Community Health R — Renewable Energy & Biomimicry: Exploring resilience, sustainable technology, and nature-inspired design. E — Ecosystem Connection: Highlighting the vital roles of humans, plants, and animals—including endangered species—and examining how wildlife coloration and habitat patterns ensure survival. A — Air & Water Protection: Clean Air & Water initiatives focused on safeguarding habitats, natural resources, and local biodiversity. C — Conservation & Community Health: Supporting physical and mental wellness while practicing active environmental stewardship. H — Health, Heritage & Habitat Stewardship: Fostering community well-being and long-term care for our shared natural and historical spaces. T.H.I.N.K. – A Framework for Equal Investment The T.H.I.N.K. framework is a powerful blueprint for moving from acknowledgment to accountability. It defines environmental stewardship not as a matter of charity or discretionary aesthetics, but as a fundamental baseline of education, equity, public health, and ecological justice. To build on this vision and explore how these principles translate into tangible, community-led impact, we can examine how each pillar operates on the ground—turning local commitment into lasting legacies.

● T- True Investment: (Beyond Maintenance to Restoration): True investment requires looking at historical disparities in infrastructure funding and correcting them. For a watershed like Lower Creek, this means funding that matches the scale of the ecological challenge—moving past temporary fixes to invest in comprehensive stormwater management, soil stabilization, and community-designed green infrastructure that prevents erosion and protects water quality at the source. ● H – Heightened Equity: (Universal Access to Green Spaces): The standard that every resident should live within a ten-minute walk of a quality park or natural area is a benchmark for public health and community well-being. It is our human right to have access to nature and great outdoors. No matter their socioeconomic status. ● I – Into Action:(Proven Blueprints, Local Adaptations): Communities do not need to waste a lot of time for no reason when successful frameworks for stream restoration, such as low-impact development, and urban forestry already exist. Can we take the proven blueprints you have used before and apply them to heal our wetlands and local ecosystems including playgrounds that need to be within a ten-minute walk from our homes or neighborhoods? ● N – Nature’s Standard (Safeguarding Sensitive Habitats): Prioritizing fragile local environments, from vital wetlands to the delicate habitats of the Bog Turtle of Lenoir, NC the Ramshorn snail from Lower Cape Fear River Basin in the coastal plain of NC, or the Tar River Spiny Mussel, who is highly sensitive to siltation and runoff pollution; elevates the standard of protection. Preserving these ecological anchors safeguard regional biodiversity, bolster natural flood resilience, and protects the clean water resources everyone relies on. ● K – Keeping It Equitable: We invite forward-thinking partners, foundations, and community leaders to support this project, ensuring fair access to outdoor learning and safeguarding our natural heritage for generations to come. We depend on leaders like you who know these types of lands and waters better than anyone else. Chapter 11. Anchoring Our History: The Significance of Raising a Flag at Kentwood United State Flag and Veteran Request for Kentwood 1. Kentwood is over 100 + years 2. Honoring Veteran Sites through out 3. Home grown

The "Veteran" Aspect & Continued Kent Family Archive In the military context, a high percentage of those who serve originate from small towns and rural areas. After serving in the armed forces, many veterans return to the exact soil they left. These homegrown veterans brought global experiences, discipline, and leadership back home to reinvest them directly into North Carolina.  Col. Archelus Sudderth Kent (Father of Dr. A. A. Kent Sr, and Horatio Miller Kent.): Role: Agriculture Farming, Slave owner, Military His stewardship reflects a lineage of service, linking agricultural innovation with civic duty. Today, Kentwood honors this heritage by preserving archives, fostering veteran mentorship programs, and encouraging community farming initiatives that sustain local resilience and intergenerational learning. Freed his slaves after President Lincoln Proclamation of 1862. ❖ Served as the highest Commissioner of the 80th Regiment, NC Militia, a commission issued by North Carolina Governor Thomas Bragg in October 1858 ❖ Served in the militia during the Civil War. (Archival reference: Caldwell County Library)  Horatio Miller Kent (Feb. 26, 1857 – Jan. 3, 1944): (Caldwell County, NC Sheriff- 1888 to 1890)

The Industrial & Civic Pioneer: Horatio Miller Kent (1857–1944) Positioned dynamically between the antebellum era and modern development, Horatio Miller Kent (son of Col. Archelus Kent and brother of Dr. A.A. Kent Sr.) represents the direct intersection of Lenoir's infrastructure, agricultural heritage, and military service. Historical Role & Milestone Archival Context & Service Modern Project Alignment Spanish- American War Veteran Enlisted as a 1st Lieutenant and served courageously during the conflict, later deployed as part of the Cuban Occupation Army. Veteran Mentorship: Strengthens the site’s multi-generational military legacy, cementing a space of honor for local veterans. C&L Railroad Surveyor Acted as the primary local surveyor for the Chester & Lenoir (C&L) Narrow Gauge Railroad, mapping the very physical layout of Lenoir. The Historic Trail Corridor: Directly parallels the Overmountain Victory Trail development, celebrating the professionals who surveyed and built our town. Agriculturalist & Poultry Judge Managed extensive local farming operations and served as a renowned regional poultry judge for prize- winning chickens. Community Farming & STEAM: Provides a historical precedent for community farming and natural science labs. Local Law Enforcement Served the citizens of Caldwell County as Sheriff, upholding public safety and civic integrity. Civic Responsibility: Teaches local youth the value of community leadership, structure, and public service. Letter of Endorsement Veteran Support - Flag installment/ monument request in addition to Downtown Lenoir and other Veteran Memorials throughout Caldwell County.

 William Louis Kent (Grandson of Dr. A. Kent Sr.): Carrying forward the family’s proud tradition of valor and public service, William Louis Kent answered the nation’s call during the Korean War. Serving courageously as a U.S. Marine in 1951, he earned distinguished honors for his bravery under fire—including the Bronze Star, the Rhee Syngman Presidential Citation, and the Presidential Unit Citation -The Presidential Unit Citation is originally named the Distinguished Unit Citation, this is the highest unit award given by the United States. The WWII Combat Era: Dr. Alfred H. Kent (Colonel, USA Ret., Purple Heart) .  Carrying forward the family's distinguished medical and military traditions into the global theater of World War II, Dr. Alfred H. Kent (grandson of Dr. A.A. Kent Sr.) served honorably on the front lines in Europe before achieving a prominent career as a general and thoracic surgeon. Focus Area & Honors Archival Service & Combat Valor Modern Project Alignment The Purple Heart Served with Company G, 411th Infantry in Europe, sustaining combat injuries while providing medical care and leadership on the front lines. Veteran Resiliency: Strengthens the site's multi-generational military lineage, providing an inspiring example of sacrifice for visiting students.

Senior Military Command Achieved the senior rank of Colonel in the United States Army, balancing high-level military strategy with surgical command. Veteran Support: Anchors the site's partnership with Caldwell County Veteran Services and local veterans' organizations. Thoracic & General Surgeon Pioneered critical local healthcare advancements as a specialized general and thoracic surgeon, carrying on the family's medical lineage. Public Health Sanctuary: Directly mirrors the project's proximity to Caldwell UNC Health Care as a restorative retreat. The Genealogical Mirror: A Synced Family Legacy Dr. Alfred H. Kent shared a striking, almost poetic genealogical alignment with his grandfather, the estate's original founder, Dr. Alfred A. Kent Sr. Both men dedicated their lives to the medical calling, both lived to the exact same age of eighty-five years old, and both passed away on the exact same calendar day—August 11—spanning across different generations. By honoring his memory alongside the ancestral archives of his family, the Kentwood Hub cements its status as a site of elite historical integrity. This ground acts as a living testament to individuals who shape both national freedom and regional public health. The Roots of Fairfield: Long before it became known as Fairfield—a fixture of local industry that has been operating since 1921—this historic site in Lenoir, North Carolina, was home to the renowned Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company of 1905. ● Industrial Footprint: Situated alongside the Carolina & Northwestern Railway freight station, the sprawling brick facility featured the iconic Kent-Coffey signage, serving as a cornerstone of regional manufacturing, craftsmanship, and local employment for generations. Question: Just as the flag once flew high above the historic Kent-Coffey manufacturing site, may we similarly honor that legacy by raising and flying a flag today at Kentwood?

“A proud industrial evolution—tracing the legacy of Fairfield back to its foundational roots under Kent-Coffey." N.C - V.I.S.I.O.N. (Veterans, Infrastructure, Students, and Innovation for Our North Carolina Communities) ● V - Veterans & Flag Installations ● I - Infrastructure access (Restrengthening parks, that people can benefit ramps, stairs, and safe travel routes) ● S -Sustainable energy (Solar, wind, hydro) ● I - Institutional partnerships (Hospitals, Schools, and local municipalities) ● O - Outreach for student learning and STEAM Elevated ● N - North Carolina ‘s Conservation & History preservation Again We H.O.P.E. – Helping Our Planet Endure Across our interconnected parks, wetlands, and community spaces, this H.O.P.E. initiative stands for our comprehensive vision for Lenoir and Caldwell County: ● H- Habitat Protection: Safeguarding sensitive ecosystems, protecting vulnerable wildlife, and restoring natural ecological balance from Kentwood Forest to our city wetlands. ● O – Outdoor Learning: Creating living classrooms and walkable field trips for local schools and residents to experience science, renewable energy, ecology, and history hands-on. ● P – Pollution Prevention: Implementing renewable energy, natural stormwater filtration, and upcycling initiatives to stop harmful waste and runoff from entering Lower Creek and Lake Rhodhiss. ● E – Equity in Access: Ensuring all children, families, and underserved neighborhoods have safe, high-quality, and inclusive spaces to learn, play, and connect with nature.

A Brighter, Sustainable Future for Lenoir Conclusion In conclusion, by investing in green infrastructure and robust mitigation efforts, we can elevate Lenoir’s natural splendor, safeguard our environment, and foster the health and well-being of every member of our community. Together, let us unite in our commitment to make this area of North Carolina a shining beacon of bold, dynamic living—a place where sustainability and prosperity thrive hand in hand, ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future for generations yet to come. Thank you for your interest and your global support, 1000 Community signatures and feedback 2021-2026 Crystal B. Moore – Community Advocate/Steward DrCryMoore537@outlook.com 828-394-9895 Landowners: Caldwell County Schools (Kentwood) City of Lenoir: Wetlands with Observation Deck Near Caldwell Health Department: Caldwell County Wetlands New ownership-Water life Church: Historical West Lenoir / Playground Crystal B. Moore: Eco-vision- Caldwell County

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