chapter six
The Implementation Quilt: Matching Available Resources to Network Needs
A
green infrastructure network design is a spatial vision of a desired future. But as difficult as developing this vision might be, it can be even more challenging to make the vision a reality and to translate a community’s vision and desires into concrete actions with the resources and tools readily available. A key to successful implementation is moving seamlessly from planning to on-the-ground results. This means taking the first step to implement the project on the very first day it is envisioned. In some cases, opposition to implementation can dampen enthusiasm and create obstacles. Solutions to any large, complex problem necessitate change, and people whose interests are negatively affected can easily delay or completely halt a project. When people think of implementing a land conservation project, such as a green infrastructure plan or network design, they often assume that it will be done by the government with public funding. This can be a dangerous assumption. There has never been—and will never be—enough public funding to fully implement a green
