Incorporated as a town in
1916, the City of Bowie is now the largest municipality in Prince
George’s County, and the fourth largest
city statewide. The City of Bowie lies within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed,
and within the Patuxent sub-watershed. Nearly 15 million people reside
in the watershed, which is also home to more than 3,000 species of
plants and animals.
In the last ten
years, the City has grown rapidly in population and landmass. As the
City of Bowie continues to grow, natural and wildlife habitat areas
within the City show a noticeable reduction. The well being of City
residents and the natural environment within and beyond City limits
is completely reliant on clean water, air, and soil. As stewards of
approximately seventeen square miles of natural resources, staff recognized
that what happens here in the City of Bowie, impacts ecosystems beyond
City limits, and affects future generations. Governments like the City
of Bowie have begun to develop "Smart-Growth" solutions to
uncontrolled, apparently "sprawling", development. These Smart
Growth sollutions better serve the economy, the community, and the environment
by defining how and where new development should occur.The
City of Bowie has long been committed to the Smart Growth Initiatives
as outlined in the Chesapeake
2000 Agreement, and has created a legacy that supports:
Water
Quality Protection:
Sustainable Land Use:
Habitat Protection and Restoration:
Stewardship
and Community Engagement:
As actions and
decisions made by local governments will influence corporate and
residential
practices, the City has established a legacy of sustainable,
or “Green” initiatives and policies. In order to more effectively
provide the impetus for community wide awareness and change, the City
has created this public resource, The Green Page, as an extension to
its already established legacy of environmental stewardship. This site
is intended to promote sustainability and the Green initiatives of
the City, neighboring communities and partnering agencies. It is also
meant to inform and educate citizens on other Green activities and
resources.