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Mayor DaleyOn Sustainability
We've got to understand the interactions between one region and another, we're talking really 3 states, southeastern Wisconsin, northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana at a minimum, this crescent of biodiversity along the shore of Lake Michigan.
We've done a lot nationally to improve water quality, and consequently our rivers and streams, the water quality has improved dramatically, but we've done little to think of them as systems, as watersheds, as opportunities for nonmotorized recreation, canoeing and kayaking, so open-lands projects partnered with the Paddling Council and with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission to see how we could really capitalize on this remarkable network and see it as a system of over 500 miles of water trails. It's about getting people reconnected with the waterways, so they get to understand that they're citizens of a regional watershed, and that land use decisions collectively in that watershed must be coordinated, so in lieu of regional government we really want to create a sense of regional citizenship. We feel this not only creates a wonderful new outdoor experience, but it also creates an opportunity for them to think of themselves as citizens of the region and begin to act regionally. Longterm it will lead to policy change, shortterm it creates a wonderful resource and educational opportunity that we didn't have before.
For me sustainability is that quest, that ongoing investigation that gives us that insight on how we can balance development and preservation, and have a healthier natural community as we have a healthy human community. |
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