City plans to advance green infrastructure in Saskatoon
The City wants to protect its green network with a distinct set of actions and initiatives over 10 years.
“The green network encompasses Saskatoon’s collection of green infrastructure including parks, natural areas, the urban forest and other spaces,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The network is under increasing pressure to provide high quality green space to all residents as Saskatoon grows, while reducing the emerging threats of climate change and biodiversity loss.”
Pathways for an Integrated Green Network (Green Pathways) is a 10-year implementation plan for the Green Infrastructure Strategy: Towards an Interconnected Green Network (Strategy), which was received by City Council at its meeting on February 24, 2020. The implementation plan was also identified as a priority in the City’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
In Green Pathways, the City plans to advance the network through a series of interconnected initiatives. The planned actions will work to restore the urban environment and ecosystems, support climate action and nature-based solutions, and improve quality of life for residents and visitors.
“Green Pathways provides an actionable structure to progress the green network vision through five “pathways” grouped thematically, which define actions and phased initiatives over the next 10 years,” South says.
Within each of the five pathways, actions and initiatives define partners, timelines and success measures through a phased approach that aligns with the City’s multi-year budgeting:
- Healthy and Thriving Natural Areas
- Connecting and Regenerating Green Spaces
- Leading by Example for an Integrated Green Network
- Growing Community for a Livable City
- Food Security from Seed to Table to Soil
Development of Green Pathways occurred in 2020-2022 through researching best practices and hosting a series of workshops with City stakeholders and engagement with the public and development community.
“From June 2021 to February 2022 we engaged the community specifically on the implementation plan,” says South. “Over 80 per cent strongly support all the proposed initiatives and the City taking on this work, and for the initiatives to be implemented as soon as possible to protect Saskatoon’s green network.”
Green Pathways will be presented to the City’s Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services Committee on Monday. The Pathways for an Integrated Green Network: an Implementation Plan for the Green Infrastructure Strategy report includes initiatives that have been funded to proceed in 2022-2023, and outlines medium to long term initiatives that seek resourcing and approvals in the future.