Greenspace Gems recognizes and celebrates natural areas in the Green Umbrella region with outstanding scenic value, biological diversity, scientific importance, or historic interest. By telling the stories of these protected places, we hope to grow public support for greenspace conservation and the organizations who are leading this work in our region.

Greenspace Gems are selected by a team of conservation experts to reflect unique natural sites in our region. The team strives to highlight places that represent the geographic spread of Green Umbrella's 10-county region while showcasing a diversity of interesting features: from geology to biodiversity to plant communities to history. Each site tells a story of people taking action to protect a natural resource.

To recommend a site as a Greenspace Gem, email a description of what makes the site unique, who manages it and how it was protected. Gems will be considered for addition several times a year on a rolling basis.