The Greenways Eight
How does a plan move from paper to progress? The key to the success of this plan is how well it
translates to landowners throughout the region, whether public or private.
While public agencies have preserved many high-quality habitat remnants on isolated parcels
throughout northwest Indiana, because of financial constraints, they haven’t been able to focus on the
many remaining greenway corridors spread throughout the region. Yet these are the greenway
corridors that provide the birds and butterflies, turtles and frogs, for children and families in
their backyards and neighborhoods. These are the corridors that do most of the stormwater
infiltration, groundwater recharge, and surface water cleanup. these are the corridors that add
community aesthetics, autumn tree colors, quiet spaces, and places to walk, observe, play, and explore.
Thus, it will take a substantially broader effort to achieve a connected greenway system than can
be provided by public agencies. Eight major stakeholder groups were identified as key to achieving
an effective broad-based greenway system. Only two of the eight are based on public agencies;
one of the eight depends on universities and educational institutions, and five of the eight are privately based.
Collectively, they are referred to herein as the “Greenways Eight.”