NEW RIVER VALLEY

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

What is Green Infrastructure?

Goals & Objectives

The guiding force for the Green Infrastructure initiative in the New River Valley is the Green Infrastructure Steering Team. This committee is comprised of a diverse group of professionals from various organizations and agencies throughout the region who work in collaboration with the Advisory Committee to ensure the succes of this project.

Project Timeline

Innovative projects and programs in line with the New River Valley Green Infrastructure initiative Partnership.

Success Stories available for download.

Sustainable Land Development Workshop-Sustainability Week

OUR Approach

Green Infrastructure can be broadly defined as an interconnected network of open and natural areas that contribute to the health and overall well-being of a community or region. Although a variety of definitions for the term Green Infrastructure do exist, we believe that this land-use paradigm is best defined by the needs of the community.  

By integrating the issues and concerns pertaining to the New River Valley, we have defined Green Infrastructure as a strategic approach to development that guides growth in concert with the environment, working landscapes and cultural/historical heritage.  This concept recognizes that development is imminent and embraces growth that is strategically planned to conserve cultural heritage and maintain the natural systems that we depend on.  Green Infrastructure considers these natural systems, such as our water table and clean air, as equally important to our well-being as the gray infrastructure that enables unprecedented convenience in our lives. 

It is our perspective that these two essential elements of our community, the built landscape and the natural environment, must no longer be opposing forces when planning for our future.  Rather, these two elements should complement one another to ascertain the social, economic and environmental sustainability of our communities and our children's communities.  Green Infrastructure is a major tool for creating livable communities that connect our landscapes and focus on our rural heritage for generations to come. 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DATES:

• Green Infrastructure Network Design Workshop, Sustainable Lands & Communities in the New River Valley. Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, VA on Novermber 7-8.
  



• Steering Team Meeting, The New River Valley Competitiveness Center, on December 5, at 10:00 a.m.