Nature as Infrastructure: Building Resilient Communities

Chris Peiffer, Alec Sabatini, PlanIT Geo™ and Matt Piccone, GreenWorks

Parks, open space, and urban forestry teams are increasingly expected to address complex community challenges, such as urban heat, flooding, biodiversity loss, and environmental equity, with limited resources. This session brought together experts from Greenworks and PlanIT Geo to explore how communities of all sizes, from small towns to large metropolitan areas, are applying nature-based planning strategies that support both ecological resilience and broader community goals.

Chris, Alec, and Matt share how they’ve integrated vulnerability assessments, addressed service and access gaps, prioritized diverse objectives, and engaged a wide range of stakeholders in decision-making. Whether focused on trees, trails, water systems, or natural spaces more broadly, attendees will walk away with practical strategies to structure planning across competing priorities and communicate trade-offs effectively.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion designed to surface audience insights, local challenges, and emerging practices, fostering a collaborative dialogue on how natural systems planning can evolve to meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs.

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