How  PVRS  can  benefit  from  a  land  management  plan?Pioneer  Valley  Regional  School  rests  on  85  acres  of  beau?ful  forests,  meadows,  and  wetlands.  It  is  a  home  for  several  endangered  species.  The  landscape  holds  many  educa?onal  and  recrea?onal  opportuni?es  for  our  youth.  A  land  management  plan  will  steer  its  sustainable  future  through  three  goals:•  Locate  outdoor  recrea+onal  and  learning  opportuni+es  that  cul?vate  environmental  stewardship,  healthy  lifestyle  choices  and  evolving  work  op?ons.  

• Promote  sustainable  land  use  prac+ces  which  foster  thriving  biodiversity,  raise  runoff  water  quality  and  habitat  vigor.

• Inves+gate  community  partnerships  and  out-­‐of-­‐district  supporters  to  boldly  advance  resilient  landscape  design  and  implementa?on.

On  December  1,  the  community  was  invited  to  give  input  that  would  inform  designs  in  the  land  management  plan.  Twenty-­‐six  community  members  including  6  of  Mrs.  Betsold’s  Global  Science  students  ac?vely  engaged  in  proving  valuable  input  that  would  inform  the  landscape  management  designs.  What  do  you  think  their  responses  mean?

Create  Engaging  Des+na+ons  • Trail  signs  -­‐  direc?onal  and  interpre?ve• View  of  Connec?cut  River• Places  to  sit  and  enjoy• Boardwalks  through  wetlands,  con$nued...• Green  roofed  pavilion  and  classrooms• Viewing  plaXorm

Raise  Water  Quality  • Capture  rainwater  from  roof

• Install  rain  gardens• Install  grey  water  system

• Replace  old  blacktop  with  pervious  pavement

Widen  Community  Support  • Green  group/  club  to  provide  workforce

• Community  service  at  each  grade     level• Students  priori?ze  develop  projects• Include  in  Northfield’s  Open  Space  &  

Recrea$on  Plan

Localize  Food  Security  • Community  Garden  and  greenhouse• Collabora?ve  school  and  community  efforts

Provide  Open-­‐air  Educa+on  • Build  curriculum  to  use  unique  opportuni?es• Encourage  educa?onally  sound  and  crea?ve  use

Concerns?Who  decides  what  gets  done?Who  manages  this?  Money?  Invasive  species  control?  What’s  realis?c?  Important?  Summer  management  ?Si?ng  of  photovoltaic  panels?

What  does  this  mean  for    PVRS  land  management?  • Clearly  defined  des+na+ons  will  inspire  people  to  venture  onto  the  landscape  for  educa?on  and  recrea?on.  

PVRS  Building  Resilient  Landscapes           January  2012

  Community  Workshop  Responses

TAKE A HIKE! With us to discover the beautiful land at PVRS

Saturday, February 11, 2012 @ 9:00 AM

We’ll meet at the entranceQuestions? ask@future-lands.com

PVRS  rests  84  acres  of  forest,  wetlands,  and  fields.

• Runoff  water  quality  should  be  near  the  top  of  the  designs  with  a  range  of  opportuni?es  to  address  this  issue.  

• Community  support  requires  communica?on  and  opportunity  for  people  to  engage  on  the  land  in  posi?ve  and  products  ways.  Gardening,  trail  building,  invasive  plant  management  all  provide  sound  ways  for  this  to  occur.  

• Many  forward  thinkers  believe  that  localized  food  security  will  be  key  as  communi?es  transi?on  into  a  new  era.  

Involving  youth  in  food  produc?on  helps  direct  their  diets  toward  a  healthier  choices.

• Open-­‐air  educa+on  beyond  athle?cs  and  the  sciences  will  require  innova?ve  des?na?ons  to  focus  learning.  All  disciplines  may  u?lize  the  abundance  of  educa?onal  opportuni?es  land  offers.  

What’s  next?Do  you  have  ideas  you’d  like  to  add  about  this?    You  can  add  your  thoughts  and  view  the  slide  presenta?on  at  future-­‐lands.com/blog    or  you  can  contact  John  by  email  ask@future-­‐lands.com  

Potential Solutions

Value SummaryValue SummaryValue SummaryValue SummaryValue SummaryValue Summary

Potential Solutions

Regenerates Forests &

Native Habitat

ImprovesWater Quality

Builds Diversity

Preserves Natural

Resources

Offers Educational

Opportunities

Offers Recreational Opportunities

Rain Gardens √ √ √ √ √ √

Pollinator Habitat √ √ √ √ √ √

Perennial Edible Forest Gardens √ √ √ √ √

Community Gardens √ √ √ √ √

Managed Forests √ √ √ √ √

Invasive management √ √ √ √

Green Roof √ √ √ √

Trails, signs, map √ √ √ √ √

Green-Roof Outdoor Classroom

√ √ √ √

Campus Highpoint Destination √ √

Photovoltaic System √ √ √ √

PVRS Alternative Land Management Designs

Public Input WorkshopThursday ,February 16 @ 6:30 PM