This organization makes a unique urban environment - the Chicago river - more accessible and scenic for the benefit of those living or visiting downtown Chicago. Through a sustained, multi-year series of partnerships with private and public entities, Urban Rivers creates programming and experiences to help people of all ages experience something familiar in a new way. The Schwemm Family Foundation was proud to work with Urban Rivers to support their mission through funding field trips and other visits near and on the river.

Outdoor spaces in urban settings are often highly developed and trees are often absent. The presence of vegetation – ‘Urban Greening’ – has been shown to increase a sense of community, decrease summer temperatures, improve air quality, increase bird and insect diversity and reduce crime. With support from SFF, the San Diego Parks Foundation initiated a planting effort that in 2020 and 2021 planted over 200 trees in selected urban neighborhoods. GPS data were collected on all the trees and tree survival rate was nearly 95%.

The Foundation contributed towards the efforts of the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium. They are in the initial stages of developing and building a non-motorized, multi-use, publicly accessible trail in the scenic Wallowa-Union Railroad Corridor. The complete trail will begin at the train depot in Elgin, Oregon, and wind its way through river canyons, prairies, and picturesque farmland in the Wallowa Valley, terminating 63 miles later in the mountain town of Joseph, Oregon. The trail will provide a critical link for walkers and bicyclists, allowing residents to recreate, commute, and connect.

The SFF helped fund interpretive signage as part of a permanent exhibition of Nordic heritage and culture along Astoria, Oregon’s waterfront. The beautiful heritage park was completed in the summer of 2022 and features ten educational panels.