In this section, green infrastructure refers to engineered or designed features that use vegetation and soils to manage stormwater, reduce flooding, cool neighborhoods, support biodiversity, and enhance overall quality of life.
Natural infrastructure, like wetlands, riparian areas, and forests, provide similar benefits while preserving and enhancing the city’s natural systems. These spaces serve as vital gathering places where community members can connect with nature and each other, strengthening social bonds that are critical during times of stress.
By weaving nature into the city’s built environment Beaverton can bolster resilience against the local impacts of a changing climate.
Fair Access to Nature’s Benefits: This means prioritizing investments in areas most vulnerable to climate hazards and with limited access to nature - making sure every community member can enjoy the cooling, flood protection, and health benefits these systems provide.
Achieving these outcomes will require continued investment in parks, natural areas, and green infrastructure, long-term planning that accounts for future conditions, and education and outreach to help community members understand and prepare for expected changes.