chapter four
Where Do We Begin?
T
here is no single blueprint for green infrastructure network planning and design. Green infrastructure programs are as different as the regions, states, counties, municipalities, and landscapes in which they occur. Almost all successful efforts share some common planning approaches: they bring together stakeholders, establish a mechanism for making decisions, develop a clear vision and mission, and engage the public throughout the process. When a community chooses to begin planning for green infrastructure, these steps can help to ensure success.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STAKEHOLDERS The leaders of the green infrastructure initiative should be careful to reach out to stakeholders before the green infrastructure planning process begins. Stakeholders include public entities and private individuals who own or manage land that may fall within or adjacent to the green infrastructure network, as well as anyone else who has an investment in the future of the community. Even though a green infrastructure initiative may begin as a government-led effort, the most successful results are achieved when the greater community is brought into the process at the outset. In addition to representatives from conservation and recreation organizations, a broad effort that engages longtime and newer landowners and residents,
