Profile - What We Do and How We Can Help

There is important value in planning and designing using a green infrastructure approach: it allows municipalities to identify valuable natural lands & social resources and better understand why it is important to connect those lands. A simple way to think about what constitutes a green infrastructure approach is that instead of considering a parcel, a park, a wetland, or a forest as an individual site, consider how these resources are or could be tied or connected together.

Taking a green infrastructure approach requires identifying and understanding natural systems and protecting those systems first, before development or degradation begins, as well as seeking to restore connections and valued lands of the community in already developed landscapes. This systems approach must look beyond water systems and sitespecific designs to the larger network and region in order to have greater impact and a significant economic, social, and environmental effect.

The Center for Green Infrastructure Design believes the ongoing implementation of a green infrastructure network design is critical to our society and its long-term economic and ecological sustainability. Unlike other planning consultants, the CGID is devoted to both the planning and the implementation of green infrastructure networks. Using computer-based plans and modeling, CGID is committed to developing codes, strategies, objectives, funding, ordinances, and other mechanisms which provide the effective implementation many communities seek.

Extensive knowledge and experience in disciplines that affect and influence green infrastructure planning, growth options, cultural anthropology, and alternatives enable staff members to see solutions not otherwise apparent, understand the perspectives of varied stakeholders and user groups, and undertake projects that include numerous issues. With knowledge in landscape architecture, environmental planning, biology, ecology, social ecology, real estate development, sustainability, ranching, communications and education, we offer solutions that bring mutual benefits to a region and its members.

How We Can Help
Green Infrastructure Plans and Designs
CGID uses design and planning expertise to develop holistic plans for improving and connecting social & natural systems with improved patterns of real estate development. Utilizing GIS and other mapping software, accompanied by expert knowledge, effective and powerful maps can be achieved.

Implementation and Policy Change
Because change often includes both the commitment of citizens and the adoption of improved public policy, CGID works with communities to develop policy in keeping with their comprehensive green infrastructure vision; policy that encourages conservation and better patterns of growth while protecting private property rights.

Leadership / Skills Development
CGID organizes events, provides training, and encourages involvement in activities that empower and equip community leaders and citizens to act on behalf of common community goals.

Constituent Visioning and Education
CGID enables community members to develop an informed and creative vision for the future by providing education, open houses, and interactive workshops & community events.

Project Funding
As a nonprofit, CGID leverages municipal dollars with grant funding to enable communities to incrementally achieve their vision.

Ongoing Consultation
CGID acts as a sounding board and consultant as community members assume leading roles in realizing the vision of their community. Regular follow up helps communities to measure and track results.

Project Experience
Center for Green Infrastructure Design has completed projects ranging from large regional land use plans, green infrastructure networks, and recreation plans to environmental planning, park design, open space planning, EIR’s, landscape architecture, and LEED consultation. CGID has worked with regional organizations, local authorities and stakeholders in over 300 communities and completed over 45 projects including many multi-jurisdictional plans.

Our projects have dealt with a range of issues relevant to many visioning, planning and implementation efforts, including:

Significant lands mapping
Green infrastructure planning and design
Land use patterns
Plan implementation strategies
Development options
Recreation planning
Site-specific planning and development
Ecological restoration
Annexation
Interlocal agreements
Design guidelines
Conservation subdivisions

Economic projections
Demographic projections
Land ownership
Infrastructure costs
Rural character
Sustainable principles
Air quality
Wildlife habitat
Transportation
Water consumption and costs
Water quality
Cost estimation and feasibility studies

We are pleased to bring solutions to the challenges surrounding growth and preservation issues. CGID envisions impacting every community, one individual at a time, before the lands that people love are gone forever.

For further information on the Center for Green Infrastructure Design and our Project Descriptions & Experience, please click here.