REI 2020 grant Projects

792 square feet of graffiti removed

from Arizona’s outdoor recreation & wilderness areas

In 2020, Natural Restorations received grant funding to expand our Graffiti Removal Program with our Dedicated Restoration Team and they are teaming up with us for our 4th annual Green Friday (our version of Black Friday) Lower Salt River Cleanup. The REI grant expands our Graffiti Removal Program by providing funding to put our Dedicated Restoration Team to work and purchase much needed equipment, supplies, and safety gear. This is our 2nd grand from REI Co-op, click HERE to view our 2019 REI grant projects.

This year, our focus was on the Washington Park Tunnel along the Arizona Trail and graffiti from the the Granite Dells, Eagle Rock, Monument Peak Trailhead, and Boulders Loop Trail. These sites are on the Tonto National Forest - Payson Ranger District. We are grateful to everyone at the Tonto National Forest - Payson Ranger District for their support of these projects.

Graffiti detracts from the outdoor experience and makes those who love the outdoors very upset when they see it. We regularly receive emails and messages on social media from members of the outdoor community who are upset by the graffiti painted in outdoor spaces. Parents tell us they don’t want their kids to see profanity or anything else painted on rocks and boulders when they take them outdoors.

Our Projects will have a lasting impact on these outdoor spaces; everyone visiting them can experience and enjoy nature without seeing graffiti that takes away from the outdoor experience. Outdoor user groups benefiting from these projects include hiking, climbing, biking, camping, bird watching, equestrians, and residents and visitors to Arizona looking to explore outdoor spaces. Making lasting impacts on Arizona’s outdoor spaces and spending time in nature is also beneficial to the Veterans working on our Dedicated Restoration Team.

Thank you to everyone at REI for awarding us with this grant. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact on Arizona’s outdoor spaces!

542 SQUARE FEET OF GRAFFITI REMOVED FROM Washington Park Tunnel

CLICK THE BLUE LINK TO VIEW THE ENTIRE PROJECT

250 SQ FT OF GRAFFITI REMOVED FROM Boulders along Granite Dells, including Eagle Rock, Monument Peak Trailhead, Boulders loop trail

CLICK THE BLUE LINK TO VIEW THE ENTIRE PROJECT

If you would like to help fund projects like this, click the Donate button below will link you to PayPal. enter 'Veterans' in the special instructions and your donation will go towards our dedicated restoration team projects.

If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring our Dedicated Restoration Team and helping fund team projects, please contact us.

Thank you to everyone at REI Co-op for awarding a grant to Natural Restorations to increase our impact across Arizona!