Improving Community Safety, Water Quality, and Storm Resilience Through Long Term Investments
By happenstance, two communities in two cities were the subjects of watershed master planning efforts when also selected as candidates in a separate Walkable Watershed Initiative, a partnership between Skeo and the James River Association, in 2011. Since that time, chance has long since been replaced with deliberate long-term commitment and investments in these two communities, resulting in a success story that spans from planning through implementation to long-term maintenance. This is the story of the Lakemont and Bellemeade neighborhoods, two underserved communities in high social vulnerability areas where resiliency and sustainability are factors in improving community safety. Funding partners, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, the Chesapeake Bay Trust – Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation – Community Flood Preparedness Fund, as well as multiple community stewardships and partnerships have been key to successful implementation with measurable outcomes. In this presentation we will focus on the identification and implementation of a wide range of projects, highlighting the role of partnerships in establishing resilient and sustainable solutions: Bellemeade Green Street, Culpeper Avenue Hydrodynamic Separator, Nash Street Grass Channel, and the North Whitehill, Henrico Street, Richmond Avenue, and Slagle and Hare Drainage Improvements. We will highlight the role of the community and how partnerships have enriched the successful outcomes, and we continue to strategize as we look to the future, as these stories are far from over.
Author Bio
Aislinn Creel is a Sr Stormwater Project Manager at Timmons, specializing in design and implementation of stormwater facilities. She has authored grant applications to secure funding, provided master planning, design, construction oversight, and post-construction review. Sheila Reeves is a Sr Project Manager at Timmons. She has 25 years’ experience focusing on NPDES permit compliance, stormwater and water resources engineering, and GIS solutions. Justin Doyle is the Director of Community Conservation at the James River Association. Knowledgeable in community planning, economic development, and natural resources he is dedicated to conservation and responsible stewardship of our natural resources across the James River. Hunter Nimmo is an Urban Planner at Timmons, working in due diligence, entitlement, and early design of land development projects. With a background in environmental policy and economics, he is committed to promoting built spaces which protect our natural landscape.
