Planning

• Adopt policies that incorporate the principles of smart growth
• Promote transit oriented development
  • incent development around/near train/rail stops in your city
  • develop or expand systems that support nearby rail stops (e.g. shuttles, trolleys, buses)
• Develop a master park plan for your community, targeting existing lands with important ecological features (e.g. wetlands
• Provide incentives for new development projects within your community to strive for LEED ND (neighborhood development) certification

Green infrastructure

• Develop a long term tree action plan/strategy to manage and conserve your trees
  • Commit to conserving existing trees by strengthening ordinances and enforcement
  • Use and promote the use of conservation easements to ensure long term protection
  • Commit to increasing the quantity and quality of trees and wooded areas (Be sure to plan for predicted climate changes. Trees that thrive today may not be the able to adapt to projected higher temperatures and precipitation changes.)
  • Encourage business and residents to plant native tree species
  • Use UFORE (Urban Forest Effects Model) to inventory and manage your community's urban forest
• Develop or expand a community gardening program making use of vacant properties; develop a community gardening task force.
• Encourage and provide incentives for green roofs, native species rain gardens and bioswales. Use public lands (e.g. schools and parks) for demonstration sites
• Encourage and provide incentives for use of permeable pavements (e.g. pervious concrete, pavers and gravel) by businesses and residents. Use public lands for demonstration sites

Additional resources and best practices

• Urban Planning Tools for Climate Change Mitigation. Lincoln Institute for Land Policy. 2009
• American Forests: Urban Forests - Trees Working Where People Do
• Green Alley Handbook (Chicago)
  
• High Performance Infrastructure Guidelines (New York City)
  
• Portland's Green Streets Program
• Seattle's Street Edge Alternatives Program
• Chicago Trees Initiative

Local best practices

• Valley View bought out an old bar in an industrial area and is turning that land into green space
• Glenwillow bought is transferring 100 acres of land within their municipality into green space
• Bratenahl has turned 26 acres of land into green space