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COMMON GROUND VOL. 14 NO. 1 JANUARY-MARCH 2O03 Great shifts in public climate are often basic installations or facilities upon which Words marked by changes in nomenclature . This is the continuance and growth of a community r one reason why we are hearing the term depends . " People understand the need to Matte green infrastructure more and more often. invest in infrastructure—even ;n an era of For decades people who were deaf, blind deficits . Next to national defense, funding or confined to a wheelchair were referred to for roads, bridges, sewers, airports and other as "handicapped . " It was understood that forms of capital infrastructure is always at they couldn't do what other people could . In the top of the list . However, just as we must the 1970s this perception began to change . carefully plan for and invest in our capital Instead of focusing solely on the "handicap , " infrastructure, so too must we invest in our people began to think about the "person with environmental or green infrastructure . disabilities rather than the disability itself. Green infrastructure is the ecological We came to understand that they could framework needed for environmental, pretty much do what anybody else could social and economic sustainability . It is our do—with accommodation. The results of a nation' s natural life support system. Green simple shift in perception are all around us . infrastructure is an interconnected network Today the economy is lagging and bud- of green space that conserves natural ecosys- gets are tight. Open space funding is on the tern, values and functions and provides a �- - chopping block. This is because the public wide array of benefits to people, wildlife ., _ : ens ace is a and communities . For example, green infra- - : and local officials think o � :a -0� luxury they can no longer pafford . They think structure reduces a community' s susceptibil- is published quarterly as a service to the conservation of it as an amenity, something that is n ity to floods, fires and other natura isas- ice to community by have . However, the same people understand ters . Documenting these public benefits is a The Conservation Fund that infrastructure is a necessity, not an ame- key step toward securing adequate funding . Patrick F. Noonan pity; something that communities must have, Words matter . I believe a shift in no- Chairman Lawrence A. Selzer not just something that is nice to have . We menclature from talking about open space to President view infrastructure as a primary public in- talking about green infrastructure will help Mike McQueen vestment, not something we pay for with communities understand that green space is Editor leftover money . Likewise, public officials a basic necessity that should be planned and Jack Lynn understand that infrastructure must be con- developed as an integrated system . A popu- Editorial Consultant Meg West stantly upgraded and maintained . It is not lax bumper stickers says " If you think e u- Art Director something we just buy and forget . Finally, cation is expensive, try ignorance . " Well, if we all know that infrastructure must be you think green space is expensive, just For address corrections and information, contact: developed as a system, not as isolated parts . imagine the future costs for clean air, clean April Berry One way to change this perception of water and healthy natural systems if we Circulation Manager open space as an amenity is to change the don't invest in green infrastructure today . The Conservation Fund —Edward McMahon 1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120 nomenclature . Webster s New World Dictio- Arlington, VA 22209 nary defines infrastructure as "the substruc- The author is vice president for land use 703 /525-6300 tune or underlying foundation, especially the programs at The Conservation Fund . COMMON GROUND routinely grants permission for reprints . Address editorial correspondence and reprint queries to: COMMON GROUND ,�,g tt1 f. �� t?-�x .a�` 940 Stillwater Lane 4 Earlysville, VA 22936 434 / 973-7324 coground®aol.com COMMON GROUND is available on the World Wide Web at �A . wwww.conservationfund.org ZIL Printed on recycled paper. ,r-` • $ �" �1 i; O U O GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AT r - WORK ,>s,� sx . . t3 + _ - " s O