About Greening Urban Spaces Working Group
The Greening Urban Space (GUS) working group is being led by the Aquidneck Land Trust. The links between open space and health are endless. Research shows that green spaces have the potential to improve self-perceived health, mental health, cognitive development among adolescents and perceived community connectedness.
Goals:
- Ensure that neighborhood improvements do not become a magnet for gentrification, putting the community at risk of displacement.
- Monitor public planning processes and proposed development in the HEZ.
Objectives:
- Conducting a Community Priorities Survey to find out what HEZ residents want for their neighborhood
- Develop a Community Benefits Agreement – based on the results of that survey – to make sure that any North End planning processes and development projects serve HEZ residents
- Educating GUS members and HEZ residents on planning processes and development proposals impacting the North End
- Recruiting HEZ residents to join the GUS group
- Supporting HEZ residents to speak at public meetings and hearings
- Encouraging HEZ residents to become candidates for city boards and commissions
Join Our Work
The GUS Working Group holds virtual monthly meetings the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. With all the planning and development activity going on in the North End, it is important for GUS members – and all HEZ residents – to go to public meetings and keep the community informed about what is going on and how to participate.
To learn more about the groups work or interested in getting invloved, feel free to contact:
HEZ Strategy Coordinator, Taryn Mazza
or
Lead Partner: Alex Chuman (Aquidneck Land Trust)