Our Organization

We believe that nature is in the heart of the Twin Cities.

Fishing or swimming in a local lake, riding a bicycle along a trail, watching the daily migrations of the Great Blue Heron, seeing the green of open fields and dense stands of trees along the shoreline—these are daily pleasures in the Twin Cities. We enjoy them today. But as our region grows, solid strategies are needed to preserve these treasures for ourselves and for future generations. Participants in the Regional Greenways Collaborative support an approach to planning that focuses on preserving both scenic views and also the web of natural resources that keeps this area humming with wildlife. Everyone can help by learning more about these corridors, from local officials and landowners making land use decisions to concerned citizens and natural resource professionals who are keenly tuned to the habitat needs of plants and animals. Read on to learn more about the group's vision, leadership and activities.

The Regional Greenways Collaborative Vision

The greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Area is successful in protecting, restoring, connecting, and managing a green network comprised of significant ecological areas, important open spaces, recreational areas, and working lands. By virtue of its size, quality and connectivity, this land and water network sustains and improves water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and ecological functions and diversity, while contributing to the economic well being, health, education, and enjoyment of people.

Since 1997, an informal consortium of people has been working together to support and implement an inspiring park and open space vision for the Metropolitan Region. Beginning in 2003, the consortium began exploring more formal ways to operate to advance the vision more effectively. As a result, the consortium formed the Regional Greenways Collaborative (RGC) with a volunteer Steering Committee and adopted the vision statement. In November 2004, eleven people from nonprofits, public agencies and the private sector were elected to the 2005 Steering Committee, an annual Work Plan was adopted, various work committees were identified, and the Trust for Public Land, on behalf of the RGC, sought and received two operational funding grants exclusively for RGC activities. Informative quarterly meetings held since 2001 were continued this year.

In an early 2006 planning retreat, participants voted to combine leadership and management of Regional Greenways Collaborative and Embrace Open Space and appoint a small Interim Leadership Team of up to seven people to guide both efforts immediately. Staff from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) will manage the work, including supervising contractors and supporting the Interim Leadership Team.

What are we working on right now? Download our current priority projects, goals and objectives in the 2006 Annual Plan.

The Interim Leadership Team

The members of the Interim Leadership Team oversee the organization's programs, committees and development; advise on processes and priorities and review proposals for projects and events requesting RGC support.

2006 Interim Leadership Team

Paul Austin, Executive Director, Minnesota League of Conservation Voters

Cordelia Pierson, Program Manager, The Trust for Public Land

Michael Pressman, Land Conservation Specialist, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

Sarah Strommen, Conservation Director, Minnesota Land Trust

The priority goals / achievements for 2008

Communications: Clear and compelling communications for certain outcomes
Funding: Adequate and stable funding (private, local, regional, state, federal), with voter support (candidates and referenda) and coordinated efforts for new funding
Open Space Valued: Paradigm shift concerning land use planning and implementation: Officials make open space-friendly decisions based on knowledge and values, including 2008 comprehensive plan and implementation (funding and ordinances)
Open Space Implemented: local government, with private and other public organizations, doing it just right, including local champions / strong grassroots
Coordinated Open Space Plans Implemented: Coordinated open space plans implemented across jurisdictions