Rio Verde Community Association (RVCA) has established its Vision 2035 long-range planning effort for the community with five areas of focus.

Work groups have taken on the challenge to create a plan centered on these community priorities.

One of the main challenges facing the community is preserving the natural setting that has been a significant attraction to all who live in the Verdes. That relationship to nature is what the Natural Setting Work Group is tackling. Headed by David Fridovich and the team of Kay Birdsell, Laura Buckley and Nancy Clifford, this work group is looking at the changing market, climate and demographic facts and conditions that need to be addressed.

“The discovery portion of our work is not surprising,” says Fridovich. “The dynamics of continued development, land use, water needs, climate change and associated factors are going to create friction among competing demands.”

The Natural Setting Work Group has explored the considerations needed to preserve the uniqueness of Rio Verde’s natural setting in the coming years.

It will be critical to get community input on this and other issues via a survey that will be fielded immediately after the Rio Verde 50th Anniversary celebration. Vision 2035 leadership views this as a significant time to prepare for Rio Verde’s future after celebrating its accomplishments over the past half century.

“We need to not only preserve what we have but look beyond our borders to be proactive and protect ourselves,” Fridovich said.

Anyone with questions related to this planning effort may email one of the Vision 2035 co-chairs, Barbara Baker at brpitch887@aol.com, or John Cole at johns.cole@gmail.com.