Creating Vibrant River Parkways and Vibrant Urban Communities
California’s demographics are rapidly changing. By 2050, Latinos will make up more than half of the state’s population. Additionally, a significant number of California communities suffer disproportionately high rates of environmentally related illness such as asthma and obesity. To remain relevant and effective, California’s conservation movement must grow to reflect the needs and diversity of the state.
Some of our state’s most ethnically diverse and underserved communities reside alongside urban rivers, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, and Modesto. Often, these communities have very little access to parks or open space. Resources Law Group works to link these communities with more traditional conservation interests, establishing unique partnerships focused on the revitalization and protection of urban river parkways. These collaborations create opportunities for safe outdoor recreation as well as provide hands-on environmental education, job skills training, and a valuable asset for neighboring communities. Our goal is to help advance establishment of river parkways as a vital tool to improve the quality of life in underserved communities, support the growth of new and diverse urban conservation movements, and reinforce the emergence of new voices for conservation.
RLG crafts visions for restored parkways; identifies key urban river systems, communities, leaders, and organizations; assesses strategic approaches; develops tools; creates partnerships between philanthropic clients, community interests, and conservation organizations to implement parkway visions and projects for urban rivers; and helps to create and access public funds for such projects. Beyond providing communities the public health, recreation, and education benefits of river parkways, this work is helping build a new conservation movement for California.