For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Clean Green Action will hold its Climate Change Forum II on Oct. 3, 6-8 p.m., at McMillan Memorial Library in the All Purpose Room.

The event will start with presentations by Wood County UW-Extension Community Development Educator Nancy Turyk, Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zach Vruwink, and Wood County Board Supervisor Doug Machon on visions for and actions taken by the city, county, and state.

“There are many ways communities can reduce the impacts from more intense weather events and the changing climate,” Turyk stated. “Some examples are Health Departments preparing for response to new diseases, planting trees and crops that are better suited for changing climatic conditions, and protecting and restoring wetlands to reduce flood impacts and algae blooms in lakes and rivers.”

“Communities can also implement strategies to reduce their contributions to climate change such as tree planting campaigns, reducing energy use, and developing local renewable energy resources. These types of actions have additional economic and health benefits.”

Throughout Vruwink’s time in office, the city has adopted single stream recycling collection to increase participation in recycling, bike lanes have been added to many thoroughfares to make bicycling around town an easier and safer experience, and various public buildings have been renovated to improve energy efficiency. Among the greenest measures the city has undertaken are the completion of various infrastructure projects.

“Sustainability is a common thread among a spectrum of topics in Wisconsin Rapids,” Vruwink explains, “Promoting bikeability and walkability, environmental stewardship with storm and wastewater streams, urban forestry and waste management; it pays economic and societal dividends.”

Machon’s presentation will focus on sustainable placemaking, a multifaceted approach to designing public spaces that considers the community’s assets and potential as well as the well-being and health of its residents. “Placemaking has many pieces,” said Machon, “It is correctly identifying those pieces and fitting them together that determines your success.”

During the second hour attendees will separate into groups to brainstorm possible solutions and discuss motivating factors. Turyk says, “Community conversations like Climate Forum II are good opportunities to discuss what works best for a given community and identify who should spearhead the resulting projects.”

In conjunction with this event, there will be a light bulb exchange where community residents can trade up to five new or used incandescent light bulbs for new energy efficient LED bulbs.

The event is a follow up to a forum that was held in April.