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2022 RI Green Infrastructure Coalition Quarterly Meeting Calendar
and Recent Updates
Regional municipal sustainability leaders tour best practices at Providence’s Stormwater Innovation Center and the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, November 4-5, 2021. Read on to discover more.
The Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition (GIC) will resume quarterly statewide meetings on the third Thursday of the month.

Mark your calendars for January 20, April 21, July 21, and October 20 from 11:00am-12:30pm.

Meetings will be held on Zoom until public safety protocols warrant switching back to in-person. We will explore lessons learned, brainstorm solutions, and explore emerging issues in natural infrastructure, stormwater management, policy and financing.
 
Please mark your calendar with the link below or contact Shelia Dormody at sheila.dormody@tnc.org if you would like to be added to the recurring Outlook invitation.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tnc.zoom.us/j/91583012392
Meeting ID: 915 8301 2392
Join Zoom Meeting
Also join us for regional GIC groups!

East Bay GIC
Meets quarterly on fourth Tuesday of the month, 10:00AM
Next meeting: January 25 
Click to Join Zoom Meeting

Providence GIC
Meets monthly on third Tuesdays, 2:00PM
Next meeting: January 18
Click to Join Zoom Meeting
Recent Update: Regional Sustainability Leaders Convene at Roger Williams Park
The New England Municipal Sustainability Network (NEMS) has been an invaluable space for collaboration and information sharing over the past decade. On November 4-5, 2021, the City of Providence's Office of Sustainability hosted sustainability leaders from cities and towns across New England for a fall convening, the network’s first in-person convening in over two years. Cities and towns in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont were represented at the two-day meeting, held at the Roger Williams Park Casino. 

The location within the People’s Park during peak foliage did not disappoint, with a highlight for many being the green infrastructure tour. 

Story continues after photos.
Regional municipal sustainability leaders tour best practices at Providence’s Stormwater Innovation Center and the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, November 4-5, 2021.
Dave Sharples, Town Planner for the Town of Exeter, NH found the tour to be very informative and appreciated the innovative stormwater designs, particularly the pervious paver sediment forebay for its ease of cleaning over traditional rip rap. “It is facilities such as this that will advance stormwater treatment and continually improve water quality.”

Carole Collins, Director of Energy and Sustainability for the City of Greenfield, MA reflected “As if spending time in Roger Williams Park wasn't enough of a treat, it was so inspiring to spend time with the innovative and resourceful staff who have pioneered BMPs that save Providence money while achieving sustainable ends. What a formidable team - I have every expectation that the information shared will be replicated throughout our various New England communities.”

Thank you to our colleagues at the Parks Department, Brian Byrnes and Wendy Nilsson, and to Ryan Kopp of Providence’s Stormwater Innovation Center for an engaging and informative tour of stormwater innovations throughout the park! Lee Ann Freitas also captivated the group with a tour of the chemical free practices at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, along with an opportunity to walk our three resident goats who help control poison ivy and other invasive plant species at the Park. (Did you know you can volunteer to walk our goats too?).

Funding for the fall NEMS meeting in Providence was provided by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, which works to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals nationwide. The convening provided the space for the City of Providence to share a behind-the-scenes and in-person look at the implementation and cost of chemical reduction strategies, the overall impact, lessons learned and opportunities. In addition to tours of the Stormwater Innovation Center and Botanical Center, the Office of Sustainability shared a presentation on the Pesticide Free PVD campaign and facilitated break-out discussion groups on chemical reduction strategies.
Attendees of the New England Municipal Sustainability Network (NEMS) Fall Meeting, November 4-5, 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition provides communication resources, trainings on maintenance of green infrastructure installations, and shared knowledge on successful sites and green infrastructure installations around the state.
Nature At Work is a newsletter designed and distributed by the Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition to bring more green space news to our cities and encourage the use of nature to clean, protect, and cool our neighborhoods.  Because of climate change, we are seeing increased heat impacts in our city, especially where there are fewer trees, as well as issues with flooding and polluted runoff in our neighborhoods.

The Green Infrastructure Coalition is a collaborative of more than 40 non-profit organizations, businesses, and government agencies focused on using nature to reduce stormwater pollution. We develop projects to demonstrate the powerful role nature can play to create healthier urban environments. We promote policies to create sustainable funding for stormwater management and green infrastructure solutions. And we connect a wide range of partners to share lessons learned in the Providence Metro area and Aquidneck Island.
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