THE HUDSON VALLEY REGIONAL COUNCIL (HVRC) is leading a green infrastructure (GI) planning project to protect and restore watersheds in the Hudson Valley region in New York State.  HVRC’s community outreach team, in partnership with municipal leaders, property owners and other interested citizens will develop at least 10 conceptual project plans, in each participating location -- some of which include several participating municipalities.  The project is designed primarily to support water resources protection and restoration and to promote job creation and retention.  Green infrastructure projects can  also bring added benefits including neighborhood revitalization, improved air quality and public health, energy efficiency, beautification, and enhanced quality of life.  This project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) with a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

PROJECT GOALS

• Build the capacity of municipalities and other local stakeholders to understand, plan for, implement and maintain GI practices.
  

• Develop an expanded inventory of potential GI sites and conceptual project designs in participating municipalities
  

• Expedite development of plans that can be finalized and implemented as future funding sources are identified and local development projects move forward.
  

• Facilitate ongoing planning, implementation, and maintenance of green infrastructure practices and programs.
  

• Provide technical assistance for locating funding and other resources for longer-term project implementation.
  

The priority is to make these conceptual plans as shovel-ready as possible.  Where additional local resources are available selected designs can potentially become more advanced.  This outreach and planning project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.

YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE!

Working Groups in participating communities will attend workshops to learn to identify local priorities and assess sites where green infrastructure projects can be planned. Guided by the outreach team, volunteers will then participate in developing conceptual plans for 10 sites and implementing broader outreach in the community

Click HERE for contact information on Community Outreach Leaders in each area.  For general project information, contact Simon Gruber, Project Manager, sgruber100@verizon.net or 845-534-5622.

WE’RE  LOOKING FOR—

• Municipal leaders and staff
  

• Business leaders and owners
  

• Planning boards, consultants, developers
  

• Neighborhood and homeowner associations
  

• Students and educators
  

• Scouting groups
  

• Garden clubs and community gardeners
  

• Architects, engineers and landscape architects
  

• Builders, landscapers, plumbers, and other contractors
  

• Environmental committees
  

• Interested citizens
  

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