Green Plan Final web - 3
Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan
BACKGROUND
Concerned about the loss of natural habitat and deteriorating environment, in early 2008 members of Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek urged the Cheverly Town Council to appoint a committee to develop a green infrastructure plan supported by the best available scientific information, guided by green infrastructure principles and practices, and informed by community input.
The Town Council appointed the Green Infrastructure Plan Steering Committee in May 2008. It began by establishing working groups to research and address key issues to create a comprehensive green plan, map, and implementation recommendations. The working groups reviewed existing information on Cheverly’s natural areas and resources, collected additional data, assessed the health of Cheverly’s environment, and gathered citizens’ perspectives on the kinds of problems that could be addressed by creating a green plan.
Citizens voiced concerns about sprawl and polluted waterways; invasive species and loss of trees, plants and animals; too few and disconnected walking and biking trails; traffic noise and congestion; flooding and erosion; diminished air quality and increasing temperatures; and a decline of areas to enjoy nature. Citizens consistently expressed a unified commitment to preserve and maintain Cheverly’s natural environment and urban tree cover.
This input, along with comprehensive, detailed reports issued by the Science Advisory Committee and the Land Use and Built Environment Working Group, and a review of some of the green infrastructure practices and initiatives of similar communities across the country, served as the basis for the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan.
