Seneca Creek Design Lab
The Seneca Creek Design Lab was an eighteen-month initiative funded through the Clean Water Montgomery program by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
The project supported the early development of the Community Design Lab and introduced young people and residents in Upper Montgomery County to the role that landscapes, native plants, and community design can play in improving local water quality.
The Project
•October 2024-April 2026•
Through two five-week teen workshops, community outreach activities, and environmental engagement events, participants explored how stormwater affects the Seneca Creek watershed, studied native plants, learned planting design skills and how communities can design solutions that reduce pollution and support healthier ecosystems.
Teens designed and installed two conservation landscapes at BlackRock Center for the Arts. The program combined design and environmental learning to help residents understand how their everyday decisions influence the health of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
Hands-on Learning
Through workshops and community events, teens explored how stormwater impacts the Seneca Creek watershed. Participants learned about native plants, planting design, and how communities can reduce pollution through thoughtful landscape practices.
Community Impact
Students applied what they learned by designing and installing two conservation landscapes at BlackRock Center for the Arts, demonstrating how creative design can support healthier waterways and ecosystems.
