Wilmore Neighborhood Sustainable Vision Plan

SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE www.sustaincharlotte.org Wilmore Neighborhood Sustainable Vision Plan

Using Your Plan This Sustainable Vision Plan is being provided as a living document to help your neighborhood become more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. It is a compilation of the neighborhood s three most important sustainability goals, as identified and voted on by your residents during the visioning workshop process. For each of your three primary sustainability goals, we have listed the long-term goal, an initial target (short-term goal), and an initial strategy, which is a tangible action to get started. Each goal is accompanied by a list of ideas to get you started. These are listed with the easiest to implement ideas at the top. A list of community resources available to help you reach each goal is also provided. When you contact representatives from these departments and programs, you should ask if they can suggest any other helpful resources for you. The availability of resources changes rapidly, so it s always a good idea to ask the experts! (Links may need to be copied and pasted into a web browser.) At the bottom of the plan, you ll find a list of ideas that you and your neighbors contributed during the brainstorming phase of our visioning process. The list is sorted by the six sustainability issues we asked you to consider, but we ve left the ideas in their original unedited form to remind you of exactly what you shared with us. We invite you to refer to them often, add to them, and be inspired to pursue some ideas on this list beyond your top three goals. Contact at Sustain Charlotte: Meg Fencil Education and Outreach Program Director meg.fencil@sustaincharlotte.org (704) 968-2187 www.sustaincharlotte.org Please keep us informed about your neighborhood s progress towards your goals! You are always welcome to contact us if you have questions or need help deciding how to take the next step. We are also available to discuss ideas you have for adding additional goals or extending the scope of your existing goals to the next level in partnership with Sustain Charlotte.

1 Long-term Goal #1: Increase access to healthy locally-produced foods. Construction and maintenance of a community edible walkway for residents and visitors. Build an edible walkway with at least 20 resident volunteers participating. Ideas to get you started: Build on the success of the edible walkway by continuing to recruit volunteers, organize workdays, reach out to the media.. Invite children to participate in growing and harvesting produce in the edible walkway. Organize an e-mail list or database of home gardeners who are willing to share excess produce. Start container gardens on porches or patios to give residents with small yards access to fresh produce. Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, herbs, etc. can all be grown easily in pots, gutter installations, pallet gardens or other vertical gardening methods. Be creative. Plan a network of backyard gardens hosted by homeowners. Coordinate the planting, harvest, and sharing of produce among participating gardeners. Invite apartment dwellers to participate. Host a community potluck meal or use the internet or e-mail to share recipes that feature seasonal foods and ingredients. At the event, share community knowledge about gardening and canning, freezing, or preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables. Establish a weekly carpool or vanpool to a farmers market or store that sells local food; ask for volunteers with large-capacity vehicles to be drivers. Offer to deliver orders for residents to reduce the amount of driving needed. Label plants in gardens to help children identify what can be grown locally. Organize weekly, monthly, or quarterly community garden work days, depending on the season to ensure that gardens stay well maintained. Start an inventory of tools throughout the community and create a community tool-share for use in a gardening and elsewhere. In addition to the existing vocational garden, start a community garden in a centrally located area. Ask businesses, churches or neighbors to allow access to land that isn t currently being used. Community Resources Available Mecklenburg County s List of Farmers s Markets http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/healthdepartment/ MCFVC/Pages/FarmersMarkets.aspx Sow Much Good Helps provide organic foods to all populations at below market value and creates opportunities for individuals to take part in the development of local, sustainable food source creation. http://sowmuchgood.org/ Mecklenburg Master Gardener Classes, resources, demonstration gardens, and more. http://www.mastergardenersmecklenburg.org/ CharMeck Park Services Includes construction and maintenance of community gardens. Contact Tim Turton at Timothy.Turton@Mecklenburgcountync.gov or visit http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/parkandrec/parks /ParkServices/Pages/default.aspx

Community Resources Available (continued) 1 Friendship Gardens Information and classes about gardening and food preservation. http://www.friendship-gardens.org/ Mecklenburg County Fruit and Vegetable Coalition Community Garden listings and more. http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/healthdepartment/ MCFVC/Pages/Default.aspx?src=hh Charlotte Green Assists interested and well-organized community groups to beautify their neighborhoods by planting on vacant lots, on curbs, at private residences, and more. http://charlottegreen.org/ Long-term Goal #1: Increase access to healthy locally-produced foods. Construction and maintenance of a community edible walkway for residents and visitors. Build an edible walkway with at least 20 resident volunteers participating. Residents discussed the sustainability needs of Wilmore and wrote down their ideas.

Long-term Goal #2: Reduce littering on our streets and encourage recycling. Add a network of trash cans to neighborhood streets. Install a solar-powered compactor or highcapacity traditional trash can in the neighborhood. Map where existing trash cans are and identify where littering is worst. Request a meeting with Solid Waste Services staff to share your findings and to ask if more trash cans can be added. Coordinate with school staff to involve children in cleaning the school grounds as part of a neighborhood pride service activity. 2Ideas to get you started: Register for the Great American Cleanup (March 1 - May 31) to let Mecklenburg County know how you re planning to clean your neighborhood. Submit photos and a story about the cleanup so it can be shared with the wider community: http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/solidwaste/litter/pages/great%20american%20cleanup.as px For neighborhood sports and recreation events, purchase reusable water bottles and refill them from a large cooler. It saves money in the long-term, and keeps disposable bottles out of the landfill. Carry your groceries in reusable grocery bags. When you must use plastic bags, return them to the store to be recycled. (They are not accepted in curbside recycling). Request for volunteers to be Recycling Captains to send out a reminder each week on the day before recycling collection will occur in single-family home neighborhoods. Call 311 or 704-336-7600 or see the calendar at: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/sws/curbit/recycling/pages/home.aspx Encourage neighbors to dispose of yard waste and recyclables separately from garbage. Host a recycling education event at the NGSC center and include hands-on demonstrations about how to sort recyclables. Invite a County recycling representative to give a presentation at a neighborhood meeting: http://charmeck.org/speakersbureau/pages/default.aspx Have residents bring used batteries, CFL light bulbs, and plastic bags to community events for collection. Have a neighborhood volunteer take these items to a recycling facility or business that properly disposes of the items (see resource list below). Hold a neighborhood swap shop event where people exchange reusable items that they no longer need or want. Arrange for any unwanted items to be donated, recycled, or properly disposed of. Contact Salvation Army, Goodwill, or another thrift store to arrange a community-wide donation pick up day.

2 Long-term Goal #2: Reduce littering on our streets and encourage recycling. Add a network of trash cans to neighborhood streets. Install a solar-powered compactor or highcapacity traditional trash can in the neighborhood. Community Resources Available Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful Maintain and improve the cleanliness and beauty of the city through garden grants, adopt-a-street and adopt-aneighborhood programs and more. http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/solidwaste/li tter/pages/keepmecklenburgbeautiful.aspx Keep Charlotte Beautiful Borrow clean-up supplies for the Great American Cleanup (March 1 - May 31 annually), find dates of free paper shredding events, apply for a neighborhood beautification grant, adopt-a-city-street, and more. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/kcb/pages/home.aspx Street Clean-Ups If you haven t ever planned a street clean-up event, volunteer for an organized street clean-up in Charlotte and learn how easy it is to do in your neighborhood. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/kcb/pages/eventcalendar. aspx Contact Keep Charlotte Beautiful to borrow supplies and organize a volunteer waste cleanup in your own neighborhood. Email kcb@charlottenc.gov or call 704-353-1235. Adopt-a-Stream Program Make a 2-year commitment to clean up waste from a stream in your neighborhood. Cleanup supplies can be borrowed. Search for available stream segments online: http://charmeck.org/stormwater/volunteergetinvolved/pages/adopt-astreamprogram.aspx Residential Drop-off Recycling If recycling facilities are not available at your apartment complex, organize a weekly trip to the nearest drop-off recycling center. The website includes information about what is and is not recyclable. Do not mix trash with recyclables. http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/solidwaste/r ecyclingdropoffcenters/pages/default.aspx Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Drain Marking Program Request a free drain marking kit and organize residents to mark drains in order to discourage dumping of chemicals. http://charmeck.org/stormwater/volunteergetinvolved/pages/stor mdrainmarkingprogram.aspx Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Recycling Program In addition to teaching children how to recycle waste at home, get involved at local schools and encourage recycling if it is not already happening. http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/solidwaste/ SchoolandKidsRecycleCorner/Pages/default.aspx City Code Enforcement Office Report poor lawn public right of way, junk accumulation, or other health and sanitation problems.. Call 311 or 704-336-7600, or onlne: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/codeenforcement/pages/r eportacodeviolation.aspx Business Recycling Do you own or work for a business in your neighborhood? Be aware of recycling laws, and request a free indoor recycling container. http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/solidwaste/ BusinessRecycling/Pages/default.aspx Goodwill Electronics Recycling Keep dangerous heavy metals and toxins out of our soil and water by NEVER disposing of electronics or computers in your regular trash pickup. If your items are still in good working condition, you can donate them to a variety of vocational services or thrift stores. Goodwill offers free electronics recycling. http://www.goodwillsp.org/donate/computers/how-to-donate-acomputer/ Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program Report sewage overflow, broken pipes, sewer odor, discoloration of creeks or streams, or injured/sick animals in streams. Call 311 or 704-336-5500, or online: http://charmeck.org/stormwater/reportpollution/pages/default.as px Mecklenburg Stream Water Quality Monitor the health of the streams in your neighborhood. Enter your address and see the quality of water in real time. http://charmeck.org/stormwater/reportpollution/pages/conditio nofstreamsinbackyard.aspx

3 Long-term Goal #3: Make the neighborhood a safer and easier place to walk and bike. Provide more infrastructure for walking and biking (benches, bike racks) Install a bike rack in the neighborhood. Ideas to get you started: Take advantage of Wilmore s urban location to show residents how easy it is to walk, bike, or use transit instead of driving. Create a map of destinations and routes, and make this available online to residents and visitors. Promote Wilmore s new edible walkway as a local tourist destination via a website that includes active transportation directions for visiting. Identify and assign bike mentors to help neighbors plan safe and efficient routes to services, work, or select locations. Share these notes with the neighborhood. Challenge residents in your neighborhood to have an alternative or sustainable transportation day. Show them how easy and safe it is to ride the bus or light rail, walk, or bike. Consider offering prizes such as transit passes or biking/walking gear. Walk through the neighborhood to identify hazards or obstacles that make it difficult to access bus stops, walk, or bike. Work with the City (using resources mentioned below) to remove these obstacles. Obtain schedules for neighborhood bus routes and light rail. Make these available to residents at local recreation centers and service organizations. Identify safe routes for children to walk or bike to and from school. Younger children can be accompanied by parents. Arrange for a small group of parents to share this responsibility. Talk to your employer to see if they offer reduced transit passes, bike parking facilities, or other amenities that would make a car-free commute easier for employees. If not, let them know that this important to you. Community Resources Available Trips For Kids This nonprofit organization will teach children how to ride a bike for the first time. They offer training in bike skills to children and adults, as well as recreational mountain bike rides for children. http://tripsforkidscharlotte.org/ Bike groups and weekly rides Learn fun and safe bike routes for commuting and recreation in Charlotte by finding a group bike ride in your neighborhood that s right for your skill level at WeeklyRides.com. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Sign up for alerts about schedule changes, find maps, and plan your trip. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/alerts/pages/default.aspx CATS smartphone app Find information about routes, next arrival of a bus or light rail, and submit feedback to CATS. Spanish version available. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/bus/pages/mobileapp.aspx CATS Seniors In Motion Program Fares for seniors age 65+ are half-price. Invite a representative from CATS to share information about their services with seniors at your senior center, place of worship, or civic group. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/about/catsprograms/page s/seniorsinmotion.aspx 25 mph signs If speeding drivers make your neighborhood unsafe for walking or biking, submit a Speed Limit Reduction request. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/transportation/traffic/pages/spe ed%20limit%20reductions.aspx

Community Resources Available (continued) 3 Request a bus stop If a bus stop is needed at a location in your neighborhood, call CATS customer service at 704-336-7433 or email telltransit@charlottenc.gov with the proposed location of the stop and your contact information. Translate and distribute information about current transit routes (bus and light rail) and how to use them into the languages used by immigrants in your neighborhood. Neighborhood Traffic Management Learn about the ways your neighborhood streets can become safer for residents, including requests for 4-way stops and speed humps (based on need and availability). http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/transportation/traffic/page s/neighborhood%20traffic%20management.aspx City pothole repair If the street surface needs repair, call 311 or fill out the online form: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/transportation/streetsidewal kmaintenance/pages/pot%20hole%20repair.aspx Carpool If biking, walking, or riding transit isn t possible for you due to location or working a night shift, organize a carpool with people who work with or near you. CATS offers a system to search for potential carpool partners: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/commuting/carpool/pages /default.aspx Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs Download the free Charlotte Cycling Guide, learn about pedestrian and bicycle laws and safety, plans, and more. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/transportation/pedbike/pages/ Home.aspx Walking Navigation from Google Maps Easily find your way around Charlotte while walking. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/09/walk-this-way.html City sidewalk repair Is there an unsafe sidewalk in your neighborhood that needs repair? Call 311 or fill out the online form: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/transportation/streetsidewalkma intenance/pages/sidewalk%20repair.aspx Long-term Goal #3: Make the neighborhood a safer and easier place to walk and bike. Provide more infrastructure for walking and biking (benches, bike racks) Install a bike rack in the neighborhood. Residents used funding from Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful and Sustain Charlotte to professionally plan Charlotte s first edible walkway, then built and planted it with volunteer labor.

Transportation Parks + Green Space Resident-Submitted Ideas and Suggestions Walk, bike and use transit. Bike lanes on West, Mint, and Tryon. Make sidewalks more level for walking and skating. Waste Less trash and litter on the roads and sewer grates. Have more trash cans on Mint, West, Tryon. Trash/recycle bins. Too much trash on street. Water Educate on water harvesting. Plant lawns that use less water. Use faucets and toilets that don t need as much water. Clean up and fix tennis courts at Abbott Park. Neighborhood get togethers in yards different from South End residents because we have lawns. Block party! Bury power lines (aesthetic). Lot next to Red Sea could be converted to something. Improve park and keep it clean and well lit. Children s garden to let them see where food comes from. Apartment lighting improve. Food No major affordable supermarket or grocery in area. Food access. Hold a garden swap or gardening event. Plant our edible walkway. Energy Contact at Sustain Charlotte: Meg Fencil Education and Outreach Program Director meg.fencil@sustaincharlotte.org (704) 968-2187 www.sustaincharlotte.org Old homes use more energy. Better light bulbs.