U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

CPL Nature Club: Rethinking Urban Green Spaces: Nature Walk with Earthwise Aware (Main)

Location

Main Library
449 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138

Get directions

Description

Calendar event image

Join Earthwise Aware (EwA) for an interactive walk to observe, document, and take part in shaping urban spaces that work with nature. Together, we will explore how design choices and climate pressures shape the ecological value of our everyday green spaces, and document habitat conditions using simple citizen science tools.

Starting at the library lawn, we will examine spaces that appear green but often function poorly. Manicured lawns and sparse tree plantings may look inviting, yet they frequently support little biodiversity and can limit soil health and resilience. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? We will record what is present, what is missing, and what that tells us about ecological function.

During the walk, we will:

  • Observe and document plant communities and habitat quality

  • Identify signs of low and high ecological function

  • Compare conventional landscapes with more resilient plantings such as native beds or meadow patches

  • Contribute real data that supports local ecological understanding and decision making

This is participatory science in practice. Your observations will feed into broader efforts to track urban biodiversity and inform better land use choices.

 

The program will meet outside the library in Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.

Rain date: Wednesday May 6

Register for this event

Last Updated: 4/21/2026
Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc.