The Green Foundation is committed to keeping our community’s green spaces healthy and vibrant. With your support, we’re able to plant, restore, and enhance these natural areas through a variety of ongoing projects.
Below is a snapshot of our current work, from new plantings to repairs and special installations. Your donations make these improvements possible and help us continue caring for these vital green spaces.
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Hilton Ravine
225 River Road
Chronolog Station
As part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant and partnership with CNU’s I-Hub center, this project will install a chronolog station in the Hilton Ravine to monitor seasonal water and vegetation changes. Chronolog stations allows site-users to upload photographs of the stream from their phone to the app and then generates time-lapse visualizations of the collective images. This information will allow the Green Foundation to assess and act on this environmental data to improve the property. A special thank you to Dr. Joe Balay for his lead work on this project.
Water Quality Testing
As part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant and partnership with CNU’s I-Hub center, Dr. Knies and her students have conducted monthly water sampling at the Hilton Ravine and Hilton Beach since September 2025 to determine the health of the stream and highlight any problematic chemicals, bacteria, or other pollutants.
Their process uses R-cards, a streamlined method that detects the fecal-indicator bacterium Enterococcus and shows the number of colonies that grow from a 1-mL water sample. Results in the ravine have been highly variable, ranging from below the EPA threshold for beach safety to dozens of colonies, indicating likely fecal contamination under some conditions. On most sampling dates, the ravine had more Enterococcus colonies than the adjacent beach water. Sampling will continue in spring 2026 through Dr. Knies’ Environmental Microbiology course, which will use an EPA-approved laboratory method capable of detecting lower concentrations and providing more precise, regulatory-grade measurements.
This information will help the Green Foundation assess and act on this environmental data to help improve the stream. A special thank you to Dr. Jen Knies for her lead work on this project.
Habitat Restoration
The Green Foundation is leading a native habitat restoration project at the Hilton Ravine in Hilton Village. The initiative aims to improve the ecological health of the ravine by removing invasive species, planting native vegetation, and engaging the community in ongoing environmental stewardship. Work will take place in targeted areas throughout the year as the project progresses.
This effort is supported by a grant from Keep America Beautiful and by funds raised through our Give Local 757 campaign.
Three Sisters Tree
A large, multi-stemmed black gum tree, affectionately called the “Three Sisters Tree,” stands as a beloved landmark near the outdoor classroom in the Hilton Ravine. Recently, a crack developed at the base of one trunk. To preserve this tree, the Green Foundation is partnering with Bartlett Tree Experts to install cabling that will provide structural support and help ensure its long-term health.
eBird Hotspot at Riverfront Park
As part of our ongoing commitment to the restoration and conservation of the Hilton Ravine, the Green Foundation has recently created a new eBird Hotspot at Riverfront Park (comprising Hilton Beach, Hilton Pier, the Hilton Elementary School playfield, and the Hilton Ravine). Signage has been installed with directions and a simple QR code to help birders submit their bird checklists from this site. Get started here. (eBird account is required to participate).
The Green Foundation will use this data to track bird populations and migrations in the area and to develop conservation strategies to better support our feathered friends. Check our eBird hotspot for updates! Thanks to Dr. Joe Balay, the National Science Foundation, and the Christopher Newport University I-Hub grant initiative for making this possible.
Eastwood Dr.
457 Eastwood Dr.
This initiative originated through a partnership with students and faculty in the community-engaged Tidewater Fellows Program at Christopher Newport University. Under the guidance of Dr. Joe Balay, students in his Environmental Ethics courses researched our Eastwood Dr. green space and consulted with local residents to identify opportunities for improvement.
The resulting plan includes establishing a small pollinator garden and incorporating native plants and trees. Initial plantings are complete, and additional seasonal plantings are planned to ensure continued growth and biodiversity.
Funding for this project was made possible through donations from our GivingTuesday and Give Local 757 campaigns.
Center Ave.
315 Center Ave.
In collaboration with Dr. Joe Balay’s Environmental Ethics class, this project incorporates community feedback to enhance and preserve our neighborhood green space as a pocket park for recreation and gathering.
Key improvements include planting fifteen native wax myrtles along the perimeter to create a natural border and support local ecosystems. Two garden beds featuring native plants will be installed at the front and back of the green space, and a decorative boulder now provides a welcoming focal point. Custom benches are planned to increase seating, and we hope to partner with a neighboring business to add a community mural.
This project is supported by a grant from Dominion Energy.
Sarfan Food Forest
The Sarfan Family’s generous donation of a 5.02-acre parcel in the Southeast Community will become the peninsula’s first food forest—designed to help address food insecurity and create a productive green space. Initial plantings included apple, fig, pear, plum, and persimmon trees.
Over the past year, the Green Foundation has collaborated with VHB, a civil engineering firm, to develop a phased site plan and secure required city and stormwater approvals. With final permits expected soon, the project is preparing to move into its next phase of implementation. Visit our Sarfan Food Forest website for more information and updates.
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