Resilient Communities
Program
Learn about how Rooting for the Ridge started and why it is so important for Dalton.
The Why
In 2023 Thrive Regional Partnership, in collaboration with the Open Space Institute, launched the Resilient Communities pilot program, "designed to engage residents in building nature-based solutions that address environmental challenges and enhance quality of life, especially in underserved areas."
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The program reached out to Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and Dalton and a group of engaged citizens was gathered to learn about the increase of severe weather occurring in our region and develop solutions to limit future severe weather occurrences in Dalton and protect its residents.
The How
Over the course of a year and a half, this group met with Thrive Regional Partnership and the Open Space Institute to learn in-depth information on the environmental health of Dalton including information such as its tree canopy, heat islands, and past severe weather events. This group also conducted interviews with residents throughout the community to learn what events and assets stood out to residents.
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After gathering this information, the group held many discussions between their members and with stakeholders in the community to develop a plan that would help maintain Dalton's resiliency by spreading awareness about the value of Rocky Face Ridge.
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The Resilient Communities program granted $20,000 seed money to Rooting for the Ridge: Preserving Rocky Face Ridge to be administered by Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful in December of 2023 and since then the group has been working hard to develop lesson plans, signage, and surveys for the community.
PARTNERS.
The Rooting for the Ridge program is funded through the Thrive Regional Partnership’s Resilient Communities program run in partnership with Open Space Institute, has Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful as administrator, and is led by a group of citizens in Dalton and Whitfield County.
