Smart Growth America Brings Complete Streets Workshop to Huntsville
Published on May 24, 2016
City of Huntsville planners and administrators will meet with representatives from Smart Growth America on June 15 and 16 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. This workshop will provide the community with tools and strategies to develop a Complete Streets policy that will help Huntsville plan and design its streets to be safe, comfortable, and convenient for people of all ages and abilities, whether they are walking, bicycling, driving, or using public transportation.
“Our BIG Picture master planning process has us thinking about how we want to shape our live, work, learn and play communities for the future,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “How we use our streets for connectivity is central to this conversation. This Complete Streets workshop gives us an opportunity to learn more about new practices that will help make our city even more livable, healthier and sustainable.”
Huntsville area residents are invited to join the workshop’s first day for an introductory presentation and interactive discussion about Complete Streets and their benefits. The event will be held June 15, at 6 p.m. in the Stone Event Center, Campus No. 805, 2620 Clinton Avenue West.
In December 2015, Huntsville was one of seven communities nationwide selected from a pool of over 67 applications by Smart Growth America to participate in the technical assistance program. Stretching from Florida to Alaska, these seven communities represent major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns alike.
“We were very fortunate to get this grant,” said Dennis Madsen, Long-Range Planner for the City of Huntsville. “The workshop is a great opportunity to help design the transportation network of Huntsville’s future.”
The program, made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant to Smart Growth America from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Two other nonprofit organizations-Project for Public Spaces and Global Green-currently have active grants under this program to help communities get the kinds of development they want.
As a national leader in the field, Smart Growth America has accumulated extensive experience working with communities to help them use land strategically, make the most of existing resources and invest strategically to catalyze private development.
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.
