Our towns have departments that maintain parks and roadsides, as well as municipal properties. As a resident, your opinion matters. Many towns in our country have switched to healthier and better practices because residents got involved and communicated with town officials. It takes time to change habits. The best approach is to demonstrate the benefits of healthier landscaping practices: improved air quality, better drainage, resilience and a higher life quality for its residents. Healthier landscaping practices also save money and add beauty and interest to parks and roadsides.

Here are some examples of how to obtain healthier practices on a municipal level:

• Toxin free management of schools and parks. For more information visit Non Toxic Communities >
• Switching to zero emissions grounds maintenance. For more information visit: AGZA >
• Eco-friendly roadside management. For more information visit: Federal Highway Administration Environmental Review Toolkit >
• Replacing old drainage systems with rain gardens. For more information visit: EPA – Rain Gardens >
• Making your town a tree city. For more information visit: Tree City USA >

Other things you could promote: a commitment to native plants with a municipal proclamation, participation in a Pollinator Project, or installation of a municipal pollinator garden. State funding might be available for certain projects. To get information about federal subsidies visit: Federal Funding Opportunities Climate Resilience Tool Kit >