Through the Equitable Resilience Program with EPA, SMM is working with 15 communities across the south and southwest. Miami, Oklahoma is situated along the Neosho River and US Route 66 in the northeastern corner of the state. It is home to 10 Native nations including Quapaw, Wyandotte, Modoc, Miami, Seneca-Cayuga, Ottawa, Eastern Shawnee, Peoria, Shawnee and Cherokee.

Lead and zinc were discovered in the area in 1890, and Miami became the gateway to the mining fields. Today Miami is in the Tar Creek Superfund Site, declared by EPA in 1983. The mining companies left behind huge chat piles contaminated with heavy metals. The contamination has leached into the soil, seeped into groundwater, and run off into creeks. As a result, children in the region have suffered from lead poisoning, leading to learning disabilities and other health issues.

Flooding is a related challenge. The city has experienced numerous floods since the 1990s with polluted floodwater entering homes. The frequent flooding has led to disputes between the city and dam operator on Grand Lake, as the backed-up water contributes to Miami's flooding.

The legacy of pollution and contamination has fractured the community's relationship with the land. L.E.A.D. Agency has spearheaded an environmental justice movement to bring attention to these issues and heal this connection, especially with Tar Creek. The community aspires to have a place where they can experience joy and gather to celebrate the beauty of their regional landscape. To achieve this, the existing Riverview Park, which has suffered repeated flooding, will be transformed into a Nature Park with an emphasis on restoring Tallgrass Prairie and walking trails. The design relocates amenities that are damaged by flooding outside of the floodplain.

The community envisions the project as a catalyst for environmental education, fostering renewed appreciation for local ecosystems and promoting conservation efforts. By creating an engaging and safer natural space, the project addresses the need for recreation while tackling environmental challenges and promoting ecological restoration.