COME GREEN YOUR CITY: COMMUNITY WORKSHOP NOV. 19

On Wednesday evening Nov. 19, the City of Lynchburg and the University of Virginia will host an open house for residents, business leaders, and everyone interested in the environmental health of the city to help shape ideas for the future of Lynchburg’s natural assets. The open house will last from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and be held at the Lynchburg City Market on the corner of 12th and Main at 1219 Main Street. Attendees may come and go at any time. Stations will be set up where attendees can comment on ideas for stream habitats and stormwater, tree canopy, trails and cultural resources and parks.  Students will showcase their ideas based on recent research and ask for community input. Community ideas will be used to make final recommendations to the city in December.

This project is a collaborative partnership between the City of Lynchburg and the University of Virginia. Graduate students at the University of Virginia are helping Lynchburg to plan for its “green infrastructure.” Just as gray infrastructure, such as sidewalks or roads, are critical to a well functioning city, so are natural assets called green infrastructure. Green infrastructure is the interconnected network of waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas; greenways, parks, and trails that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources and contribute to health and quality of life. In urban areas, tree canopy helps keep the city cooler in the summer while also absorbing pollutants from the air. At the workshop, students will reveal just how much air pollution is treated by city trees. They will also suggest options for better protecting streams as well as ideas for improving the trail network. Ideas for greening schools and improving park lands also will be discussed.

According to planning professor Karen Firehock, “Students benefit from this applied study by gaining real-world planning experience while Lynchburg gains new ideas for improving the environmental health of the city at no charge.”

A final report will be issued to the city in December Case examples from other localities will be used to inform recommendations. Community input is essential to making sure that the report considers and utilizes community insights and responds to neighborhood interests. Families are encouraged to attend and bring kids too!