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GATEWAY COMMUNITIES TO NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS

Kountze is a Gateway Community for the Big Thicket National Preserve

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WHAT IS A GATEWAY COMMUNITY?

 

✔    Towns and cities that border public lands

 

✔    Public lands including parks, refuges, forests, historical sites

 

✔    Public land resources is focus of community identity and livelihood

 

 

 

TOPICS: Balancing nature and commerce

 

Keys to successful communities

 

Keys to sustainable tourism

 

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What is a Gateway Community

Towns

Towns and cities that border public lands

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Public lands including parks, refuges, foress, historical sites

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Public land resources is focus of community identify and livelihood

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Topics and Issues

  • Balancing nature and commerce

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  • Keys to successful communities

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  • Keys to sustainable tourism
  • Issues facing gateway communities

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  • How to preserve local character

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  • Sustainable development and tourism

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BUILDING GREEN NEIGHBORHOODS

  • Lots of trees sell for an average of 20-30% more than similar size without trees
  • Tree planting and preservation pays off on upscale properties as well as smaller less expensive lots

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VALUE OF TREES & LANDSCAPING

  • Increases financial return by 5-15%
  • Increases rate of project absorption
  • Increases productivity, morale and job satisfaction
  • Helps developers win support for proposals

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DISCUSSION #1

*What development conflicts/issues are facing your community and public land?

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*What is being done to resolve these conflicts?

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*Can you think of other examples where the environment is good for the economy and the community?

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KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES

  • Have a vision for the future
  • Inventory your assets

*Natural resources

*Cultural resources

*Economic resources

*Human resources

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Keys to Success

  • Plan around enhancement of assets
  • Use education, incentives, and voluntary initiatives
  • Choose among development proposals
  • Cooperate for mutual benefit

*Public land managers

*Community members

*Other stakeholders

  • Consider ecology, economy, aesthetics
  • Quality of life lobby

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EXPLORE BEYOND REGULATIONS

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  • Use education
  • Use economic incentives

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  • Use voluntary initiatives