By Susan and Biff Andrews

The citizens of Suffolk are as well informed, innovative and persistent as any community in the Hampton Roads area.

This is evident by the fact that citizens who are concerned about the sustainability and livability of our community continue to push forward the importance of balance between commercial development and land management in our beautiful city. Both of these equally impact the quality of our lives.

People want to live in a vibrant community with a robust economy that provides opportunities for jobs, safe neighborhoods and commerce. Citizens also want a healthy community with well-managed natural resources and recreational opportunities in which to raise their families.

Fortunately the two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand-in-hand to create the kind of environment in which most of us want to live.

“Green infrastructure” is a term used to describe a strategic approach to conservation of open space that emphasizes interconnected networks of lands with the intention of preserving ecological assets, while simultaneously accommodating well-planned development. Green infrastructure is a win for everybody.

Green Infrastructure Center Inc. and the Virginia Department of Forestry have provided the City of Suffolk with $10,000 in technical assistance to help our community map, evaluate and plan for conserving our natural resources. This grant provides new tools to map our natural assets within the Nansemond River watershed, such as tree canopy, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities.

The Green Infrastructure Community Planning Grant is administered by the nonprofit GIC with support from the Virginia Department of Forestry and funding from the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service.

The objective of this grant is to identify assets and opportunities that can be used to inform decision makers as to the many benefits that “green infrastructure” can bring to economic vitality, land-use plans, capital improvement project construction, and an improved quality of life for the citizens of Suffolk. Expected outcomes from the grant are enhanced mapping of key environmental, cultural, agricultural, and recreational assets; development of goals and strategies for multi-scale implementation; and strategies for continued outreach and community support.

Planning and timing are always key to success, and now is certainly the time for a plan that carefully considers all of our city’s resources, whether brick and mortar or natural habitat, as equally valuable.

A public forum will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Suffolk City Council chambers. The forum will be an opportunity for residents to learn about green infrastructure principles and concepts, ask questions and make comments. This is a golden opportunity for citizens to get involved in our city and take a proactive approach to achieving thoughtful planning, along with city leaders with regard to the use of green space in future development.

Information from this vitally important meeting will serve to identify opportunities to protect and connect natural and cultural assets by ultimately developing an action plan that will carry our city into a future that will provide a high quality of life for generations to come.

Our land is disappearing fast, and how we use it impacts us all. We encourage you to find the time to get involved in the future of your community and participate in this very important forum.

Susan and Bradford “Biff” Andrews are retired teachers and master naturalists who have been outdoor people all their lives, exploring and enjoying the woods, swamps, rivers and beaches throughout the region for many years. Email them at b.andrews22@live.com.