Ridgeview Conservancy Model Of Smart Growth Gets Princeton Council Nod

PRINCETON, NJ —The degradation and loss of forests greatly affects human health, and providing equitable access to nature for all was of utmost importance.

Patricia Shanley, Founder of Ridgeview Conservancy, Board member, and Director of Stewardship recently made a presentation to Council, urging them to embrace community health through green space.

Explaining the new term “environmental grief” Shanley said it was like a disease that sets in as people walk or drive by a forest that they loved but exists no longer.

“We don’t have much to work with, so what we’re trying to do in Princeton and many other towns is restore some of the degraded areas and make an impact,” Shanley said.

According to Shanley, access to forests and nature lowers morbidity and mortality and extends people's lives by eight to 10 years or more.

She praised local groups and individuals for their work in maintaining green spaces and called for stringing them together to create Princeton’s Emerald Necklace.

“The idea is really smart growth downtown while we keep the strategic green infrastructure in the forests and in those green areas for low flooding,” Shanley said.

She also thanked Council for their "transformative" leadership in preserving green spaces in the Municipality.

"You've worked really hard and taken risks and jumped a lot of barriers to save what you've saved," Shanley said. "We hope we can continue doing this together."

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros said that the most important work Council has done was to conserve green space in Princeton. She praised Shanley for her work.

“You’re such an inspiration,” Pirone Lambros said “There’s no going back and we couldn’t do it without your inspiration and leadership.”

Council President Mia Sacks said Shanley’s vision “led us through this really significant preservation effort in a short time.”

To watch the whole presentation, click here.