City of Worcester, MA
City of Worcester to Provide Updates on its Miyawaki Forests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/11/2025 1:04 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester’s Department of Sustainability and Resilience (DSR) is hosting two events in August to provide the public with updates on its two Miyawaki Forests.
Miyawaki Forests are small, dense, layered urban plantings that grow vigorously and help to cool “heat islands,” improve air quality and biodiversity, and foster climate resilience. The municipality planted two last year, one located in a section of the McGrath Parking Lot at 3 Salem Sq. and another located at Plumley Village at 16 Laurel St.
On Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, DSR will provide a one-year recap of the forests at the Worcester Public Library and McGrath Parking Lot forest. The event will include a short talk at the library, followed by a guided tour of the nearby forest and hands-on activities like plant tagging, a scavenger hunt for kids, and a macroinvertebrates “petting zoo.” Pizza and lemonade will be provided.
The following week, on Tuesday Aug. 26, 2025, DSR will discuss the forests and the ecological function of the Urban Wild at Clark University. The presentation will look at how these native biodiverse plantings are revitalizing urban spaces.
WHAT: Worcester’s Miyawaki Forests – Background & Year One Recap
WHO: Department of Sustainability and Resilience
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Worcester Public Library, McGrath Parking Lot Miyawaki Forest
WHAT: Worcester’s Miyawaki Forests and the Ecological Function of the Urban Wild
WHO: Department of Sustainability and Resilience
WHEN: Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Clark University, Jefferson Hall Room 218