Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan
ACHIEVING THE GREEN VISION
Applying Cheverly’s Green Infrastructure Plan as a framework for conservation and investment decisions provides broad and equitable benefits. Successful implementation of the Green Plan is ultimately dependent upon the leadership of Cheverly’s Town government, its citizens, commercial property owners and businesses, and our local community organizations, churches and schools all working as collaborative partners for the future. From the mayor to our schoolchildren, all have an important role in sustaining a thriving, healthy environment.
Studies underscore the importance of local action in preserving, improving and maintaining ecosystems. A sense of place and connection builds a stewardship ethic that supports action, and Cheverly is known for its community spirit and civic engagement, It counts more than a dozen citizen groups with nearly a third of those focusing on environmental conservation activities. It also is fortunate to have involved elected leaders and a town administration that has already demonstrated significant progress implementing environmental initiatives.
There are many well-tested strategies and examples demonstrating the benefit of applying green infrastructure, and fortunately many of the methods and practices are inexpensive and simple to apply. Others require larger investments of time and effort. Green infrastructure networks provide an excellent framework for informing and guiding public decisions. By its very structure, network plans address a range of community actions, involve committed partners, and strategically focus activities. This approach also makes good economic sense by achieving multiple priorities with a few strategically placed investments, thus stretching limited budgets while maximizing investment returns. In addition, a network plan with a strategic approach to implementation is highly valued by prospective funders.
The Town of Cheverly and its environmentally focused community organizations have demonstrated significant achievement on environmental and green infrastructure initiatives to date, and have been successful in securing a range of funding and resources to support its progress. Time and effort will continue to focus on fundraising through grants as an effective approach for particular actions.
Education of all sectors of our community is an important way to implement the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan. Educational programs will convey the significance of green infrastructure, the need to preserve fully functioning ecosystems, and provide resources for residents and other constituents. Such programs may include:
Enriching nature education for children and youth by directly conducting, partnering to provide, and communicating resources for a wide range of experiential, online, classroom and home-based programs.
Providing information and educational resources about living with urban wildlife.
Conducting educational nature activities such as annual bird counts, bio-blitzes, wildlife monitoring, black light insect counts or aquatic surveys that engage students and other citizens in biological monitoring and conservation activities.
Engaging citizens, local organizations, businesses and regional partners in environmental volunteer activities, such as stream cleanups, trail building and maintenance, trash pick-up and invasives species removal.
Dedicated local financing will be necessary and valuable for both one-time projects (such as support for composting workshops) and for the longer-range administration, management, maintenance and monitoring of Cheverly’s green infrastructure. The town has already made direct strategic investments and should continue to do so when feasible and appropriate.
Limited town funds may be augmented through a number of vehicles including establishing a local revolving low-interest loan program to support resident and organizational initiatives, and through county tax incentives and rebates. Nearby counties have already implemented tax breaks for installing insulation and high-efficiency doors and windows to reduce energy consumption; and for installing rain barrels and rain gardens to retain water on-site and reduce storm water velocity, flooding and erosion. Cheverly should pursue these options with Prince George’s County government leaders.
Achieving the Green Plan goals requires the active and sustained participation of the full range of stakeholders and collaborative partners. The table of recommended actions shows the groups responsible for implementation and the suggested time frames for accomplishing the recommendations.
A LOOK AHEAD
In a small town such as Cheverly even seemingly small losses of natural areas, native plants and animal life and street trees can have a big and long-lasting impact. Our neighborhood streets, alleys, utility avenues, nature trails and yards form a connecting network of green conservation corridors that also serve for recreation, relaxation and access. We have the opportunity to restore yards to green oases attracting important bird and insect pollinators and other animal life; to turn church and schoolyards into green gathering and learning centers; to establish utility alleys and underdeveloped parcels into green corridors linking natural hubs and creating walking trails; to incorporate green building practices that reduce use of valuable natural resources and lower energy bills; and even to transform roofs into habitats that help retain water at the source and scour pollutants.
Implementing a comprehensive Green Infrastructure Plan will extend many significant benefits to Cheverly and beyond. It will support and contribute to the goals of several important broader initiatives. Creating the natural lands network will address the intent and spirit of the Prince George’s Countywide Green Infrastructure Plan, the Good to Green to Great Initiative of County Executive Rushern Baker, and of Envision Prince George’s. Many of these recommendations will also implement aspects of the Prince George’s County Water Resources Functional Master Plan. At the regional level, the Green Infrastructure Plan will contribute directly to the healthy watershed goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program and help the county meet stringent new water quality requirements. Finally, it sets a positive example for our residents and for other towns in Prince George’s County, especially those in the designated Developed Tier that is largely inside the beltway.