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Happy New Year Greenspace Friends!
There’s much to look forward to in 2023, so let’s jump in! This past fall, the Concord Greenspace hosted a series of community meetings to explore how our organization can best serve the Concord community. We received a huge amount of invaluable input and used this feedback to revise our mission statement and name! The Concord Greenspace Coalition is now simply “Concord Greenspace'' and referred to as “CG3”. The “3” refers to the three priorities we advocate for:
While this might sound like a change in direction, we feel that this change in language more accurately reflects the work we’ve already done and the lens we’ll use to take on new projects! Let’s break down what these priorities mean:
SMART GROWTH
"Smart growth" covers a range of sustainable development and conservation strategies that help protect the natural environment, our health, and make our communities more attractive, economically stronger, and more socially diverse. These strategies preserve natural lands by reusing already developed land and infrastructure and stress efficiency over sprawl (Grow up, not out!). Learn more here.
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
Equitable development is an approach for meeting the needs of underserved communities through policies and programs that reduce disparities while fostering places that are healthy and vibrant. At CG3, we envision a Concord in which all residents in all neighborhoods can enjoy living in a city that is healthy, safe and thriving. Learn more here.
LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE
CG3 believes that smart, sustainable development is one of our best strategies for reducing emissions and enhancing preparedness for future climate impacts. In 2018, the City of Concord adopted the critical goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. CG3 advocates for and supports the work being done to achieve the city’s climate goals. Learn more here.
Our New Approach
To date, our work has been to quickly organize the community around impactful projects from a reactive stance. Moving forward, CG3 will use a proactive approach to our initiatives. CG3 will participate in relevant City boards, commissions and committees to stay ahead of decisions that impact the Concord community, and we encourage YOU to join us! We will continue to build our coalition by connecting with community members across Concord and by establishing strong partnerships with local groups and organizations. CG3 takes on projects that have a deep and lasting impact on the Concord community and fit with at least two out of our three mission priorities (smart growth, equitable development, and local climate action). Join us!
Important: We are constantly evolving and rely on YOUR incredible feedback to keep us moving in the right direction! Please keep sending us YOUR thoughts and ideas!
What’s New in the New Year?
Merrimack Riverfront Recreation and Open Space Corridor MASTER PLAN:
On Thursday, January 19 at 6pm the City will hold a public meeting to help create a Master Plan for Kiwanis Riverfront Park (Everett Arena area) and Merrimack River Recreation and Open Space Corridor. The meeting will take place at the City Wide Community Center at 14 Canterbury Road. CG3 will be there advocating for community river access, native trees, and green space. Join us! Click here to learn more.
Overall Master Plan:
The City is gearing up to work on an OVERALL new City Master Plan which will have a heavy emphasis on healthy transportation. CG3 will keep you informed, encourage you to participate, and advocate for our 3 priorities throughout the process. Also, our zoning team continues to explore and support the new zoning ordinance - learn more here.
"Our City Rocks!" Blog Post Series:
We’ll kick off the New Year with a blog series on all the amazing work our City is already doing in the direction of smart growth, equitable development, and local climate action! We plan to highlight the work of city planning, development, and relevant boards, commissions and committees to inspire YOU to get involved! Interested in helping with this series? Contact us!
Civic Health Initiative:
CG3 believes in an inclusive process for civic engagement so that all Concord residents can authentically participate in the decision making processes that impact their lives. In 2023, we will launch our Civic Health Initiative to reach out to, and empower, underrepresented individuals and communities to bring critical voices to the table. Learn more here.
Addressing Urban Canopy Loss & Climate Goals:
In 2023, we’ll be working with the Concord Energy & Environment Advisory Committee (CEEAC) and the Conservation Committee Tree Subcommittee to support their work around local climate action and addressing urban canopy loss.
Ongoing CG3 Projects:
We continue to work on the I-93/Deck Park initiative, the Middle School Rebuild, and the New Zoning project. For updates on these initiatives, and to get involved, click here.
Support Our Work
From the permanent removal of Langley Parkway from the city’s CIP to successfully advocating for a deck park and river bridge feasibility study, the Concord Greenspace Coalition worked hard for the Concord community in 2022. The CG3 team plans to work harder in 2023!
There are many hidden expenses in this work. To date these costs have been borne by our all-volunteer team. To prevent these expenses from becoming prohibitive or limiting the work we can do, we are in need of financial support. Any amount goes towards our vision of a Concord in which all residents in all neighborhoods can enjoy living in a city that is healthy, safe, and thriving. Donate today. (For a full accounting of how donated money is spent, please contact Treasurer Tim!)
Meet the Board
CG3 is an all-volunteer run New Hampshire Domestic Non-Profit organization. For a complete list of our Leadership Team members click here.
News & Upcoming Meetings
Heads Up at Concord High School!
(Planning Board Meeting - Jan 18th 7pm)
At the last Transportation Policy and Advisory Committee (TPAC) meeting, we learned that the owners of the gas station across from Concord High School at Warren and Pleasant Streets are planning to re-open. Transportation experts are hugely concerned about student/pedestrian safety. The Pleasant/Warren/S. Fruit Street intersection is already at the top of the city's list of high risk intersections with plans to redo the intersection in the near future including a roundabout. The gas station plans will be discussed at the upcoming planning board meeting on Jan 18th at 7pm. Come weigh in!
River Recreation and Open Space Corridor Community Visioning Charrette (Public Meeting -Jan 19th 6pm)
City Wide Community Center (14 Canterbury Rd. Concord). Click here to learn more.
Clean Energy and Lower Bills with Community Power - Presentation and Q&A
(Jan 24th 7pm - register here)
CG3 is thrilled that the City of Concord is exploring the Community Power Coalition. Our city is not alone, a number of New Hampshire towns are looking at community power as a way to provide energy that could lower costs for residents, help tailor their energy mix, and provide room for innovation. NHPR explores how community power came about, how it would work, and the challenge to it in this year’s legislative session - listen here! Join CG3 and register for the Community Power Presentation and Q&A on January 24th, 2023 7-8:30pm here!
CG3 Monthly Meetings
(Next Meeting - Feb 7th 6-7pm)
CG3 meets on 1st Tuesdays of the month via Google Meets - join a meeting here. In the spring we will likely move back to the City Wide Community Center - subscribe to our website for updates.
Smart Growth America's Equity Summit
(Feb 7-9th Online)
Join the CG3 team online for Smart Growth America’s Equity Summit February 7-9, 2023
Did you know?
Open to the Public
Did you know that all City board, commission, and committee meetings are open to the public and run by volunteers? Non-members or "guests" can simply show up to these meetings and listen in. We highly encourage you to attend a few meetings - you'll find them incredibly interesting! CG3's Veep recently went to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and learned that many of the critical decisions around purple bags and composting are made through "SWAC"! For a full list of the city's committees click here!
City Council Agendas
City Council agendas come out the Thursday before the monthly Monday meetings. The agenda shows what will be discussed and whether or not Council is taking public testimony on agenda items. You can view all Council agendas here.
City Manager's Newsletter
You can subscribe to the City Manager’s Newsletter which keeps you informed of city happenings including upcoming board and committee meetings, general services, and events. Once subscribed, the newsletter comes straight to your inbox - super convenient!
(With all email subscriptions (including CG3's) please check your spam & promotions folders to make sure important news isn't slipping by you!)
"Notify Me"
The City of Concord website has a “Notify Me” feature that allows you to sign up for specific board, commission, committee and/or department notifications. Check it out here. It's a multi-step process but 100% worth it!
Social Media
The City of Concord is on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! If you're a social media user, we encourage you to "like" and "follow" the city for news and updates.
Learn more about civic engagement here.
Subscribe here for CG3 news & updates.
Check our updated website and please reach out with any ideas, thoughts, or questions. We're excited for a fun-filled, civically engaged, new year with YOU!
Gratefully,
The CG3 Leadership Team
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