July 4, 2025
Advancing the 2024 Sustainability & Resilience Plan
Norwalk is known for its commitment to sustainability, and now it’s setting an ambitious goal: to become the greenest city in Connecticut! Anchored in the 2024 Sustainability & Resilience Plan and championed by newly appointed Director of Sustainability and Resilience Jodi Trendler, the city is tackling climate change, water conservation, biodiversity, transportation, and equity, one future-conscious project at a time.
From Vision to Action: Green Infrastructure in South Norwalk
In March 2024, Norwalk unveiled a major green infrastructure project focused on installing green infrastructure and a portion of the South Norwalk salt marsh. This 5-acre project, in partnership with Norwalk Land Trust, will identify and design a range of improvements that will aim to remove fill, reintroduce native plants, and install a potential mix of bioswales, rain gardens, tree boxes, pervious pavement, and detention basins to enhance stormwater management and resilience against coastal flooding.
Earth Day 2025: Community in Action
Norwalk’s commitment to environmental stewardship is also seen in its thriving community engagement. Earth Day 2025 brought together residents, schools, nonprofits, and local agencies for a vibrant festival on the Norwalk Green.
The event featured hands-on displays about composting, clean energy, shoreline resilience, and more. In the days leading up to the celebration, nearly 100 youth rowers from local clubs cleaned the Norwalk River, removing more than 1,000 pounds of trash and highlighting how community-driven efforts play a crucial role in sustainability.
Laying the Groundwork: The 2024 Sustainability & Resilience Plan
The 2024 SRP builds on years of environmental work and charts a long-term path toward a resilient, sustainable Norwalk. The plan was officially released as a draft in March 2024 and is rooted in the city’s core values: equity, innovation, preparedness, and collaboration.
Key goals of the SRP include:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Expanding green infrastructure
- Enhancing coastal and inland flood resilience
- Investing in EV charging and climate-smart transit
- Creating green workforce opportunities
- Increasing the City’s administrative capacity for sustainability
The plan also outlines how Norwalk will adapt to worsening climate conditions, including rising sea levels, more frequent extreme heat events, and heavier precipitation that strains outdated stormwater systems. As temperatures in Connecticut are expected to increase by 5°F by 2050, Norwalk is planning with urgency and clarity.
“Addressing the threats of climate change cannot wait. It’s our responsibility to take a proactive approach by implementing the steps in this Sustainability and Resilience Plan on behalf of our children, grandchildren, and future generations,” said Mayor Harry Rilling.
Mapping Risk, Planning Smart
To inform its strategy, Norwalk drew on tools like the Connecticut Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), which revealed areas most at risk from heat and flooding. Unsurprisingly, the city’s dense urban core, especially SoNo, City Center, and Manresa Island, ranked high in vulnerability due to limited green space, social stressors, and impervious surfaces.
Rather than viewing these challenges as deterrents, the SRP treats them as guideposts for targeted solutions, such as cooling infrastructure, tree canopy expansion, and flood mitigation that prioritizes equity and access.
Recent Wins on the Path to Green
Norwalk’s commitment to action is already producing results:
Sustainable CT Bronze Certification
Recognizes progress in energy efficiency, transportation, equity, and community engagement.
$1.5M Bond for Norwalk River Valley Trail
Expands walkability, bikeability, and access to green space across neighborhoods.
Creation of Norwalk’s First Office of Sustainability
The new office will lead the implementation of the SRP and oversee climate readiness initiatives throughout the city.
Fleet Electrification & Charging Infrastructure
The City is expanding its hybrid and electric vehicle fleet while expanding public EV charging access.
What’s Next: Building a Future-Focused Norwalk
As the SRP makes clear, sustainability isn’t just about protecting ecosystems—it’s about building systems that protect people. The Plan calls for increased collaboration between city departments, nonprofits, schools, and residents. It envisions a resilient Norwalk where:
- Smart development reduces runoff and supports walkability.
- Heat islands can be mitigated through expanded tree cover and the use of green roofs.
- Public transportation and electric vehicle (EV) options are accessible to all.
- Youth and adults alike can access green jobs and climate education.
These forward-looking initiatives will help reduce flood risk, improve air and water quality, and boost health equity, while preparing Norwalk for a more volatile environmental future.
Norwalk Is Thriving, Sustainably
Once a city that outlined its green ambitions in past planning documents, Norwalk is now bringing those ideas to life. Whether through marsh restoration, climate workshops, Earth Day events, or expanded trail access, Norwalk is proving what’s possible when sustainability is woven into everyday governance and growth.
Want to see how it all connects? Revisit our post on Earth Day in Norwalk to explore how local efforts fit into this big-picture strategy. Together, these actions are creating a healthier, greener, and more resilient Norwalk for today and future generations.
