VACANT TO VIBRANT : GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & URBAN REVITALIZATION Calumet Summit 2013: Connecting for Action Lauren Riga, Director City of Gary Department of Green Urbanism Gary Storm Water Management District MS4 Program
City of Gary - Calumet Region The city is located within the watersheds of the Little Calumet River Grand Calumet River, Marquette Park Lagoons and Lake Michigan. The Little Calumet River flows just about parallel to the Lake Michigan Shorelines and discharges into Lake Michigan through Burns Ditch. The Grand Calumet River originated at the east end of Gary, Indiana and flows 13 miles through Gary, East Chicago, and Hammond, highly industrialized cities in Indiana. Area of Concern (AOC) Definition: Geographic areas experiencing significant environmental degradation identified in the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
Shrinking Cities & Water Quality 70-100% Impervious surface Non-point source pollution (stormwater runoff) Source pollution (combined sewer overflows) Vacant, blighted areas create opportunities for cleanup and redevelopment Sustainable development as a way to prioritize investment Rightsize infrastructure to reflect current landscape Seas of Empty Asphalt Traditional development practices cover large areas of the ground with impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, streets and parking lots. Many of the city s vacant buildings contribute to storm water runoff and combined sewer overflows.
VACANT LANDS IN GARY Large areas of vacant land Disconnected or fragmented vacant parcels Existing neighborhood greenspace Abandoned buildings
NEW PARADIGM TRANSITION TO THE GREEN ECONOMY Improved Water Quality Green Infrastructure SYSTEMS APPROACH BUST SILOS LEVERAGE RESOURCES SAVE TIME AND MONEY Green Economy Smart Growth Urban Conservation
ECOTOURISM Natural Capital/Ecosystem Services *Enhance/promote/maximize natural capital* NATIONAL PARK, BEACHES, TRAILS, BIRDING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, POLLUTION PREVENTION, GREY INF. COST SAVINGS JOBS AND MARKET CREATION INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE GREEN PRODUCT AND SERVICE MARKETS AND MORE! Natural capital: Attributing dollar values to ecological and social benefits
NATURAL CAPITAL GARY, INDIANA TRANSITION FROM INDUSTRY TO TOURISM (ECO-TOURISM) Indiana Dunes National Park Globally rare/ecologically unique biodiversity (High ratio) Federally endangered native to region Karner Blue butterfly Migratory bird stopover sites Beautiful dunes and hiking trails Beaches Historical/cultural significance Environmental learning center Ecological restoration areas Miller Woods Trail Lagoons
Right Sizing with Green Infrastructure Field is still evolving and in early stages. Better understanding/data is needed to fully capitalize on opportunities. Right Sizing Definition: Re-adjusting a shrinking city s built environment to match its current and projected population and development trends. Green Infrastructure is evolving. Better understanding of broader triple bottom line benefits and planning approaches is needed to fully capitalize on opportunities. Green Infrastructure Definition: An array of products, technologies and practices that use natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes- to enhance overall environmental quality and provide utility services (U.S. EPA, 2010)
Blazing the Green Trail in Gary Marquette Park Green Infrastructure Project Vacant to Vibrant: Repurposing Lands Gary Northside Redevelopment Project
URBAN GREENING STRATEGY Prepare Design Implement - Monitor PREPARE- Assess & survey existing conditions Inventory & map parks, open space, trails, etc.. Inventory, map & conduct environmental assessments of vacant properties PLAN & DESIGN- Engage in collaborative neighborhood planning process Propose design options based on social, environmental and economic conditions Identify potential green infrastructure linkages Identify strategic investment areas and pilot projects Categorize neighborhoods levels of stress Identify & engage stakeholders ACTION: Implement Green Infrastructure and Economic Revitalization Plans Begin strategic acquisition, transfers & demolition Identify and engage additional partners Pursue and obtain funding
Partnership for Sustainable Communities: Gary Gary Northside Lakefront Redevelopment and Northside Project Catalyst for Redevelopment redevelopment Major assets: train, highway and Lake Significant investments to build upon $28 million RDA Marquette Park Restoration $1 million EPA Marquette Park Lagoon Dredging Project $351,000 EPA Marquette Park Lagoon stormwater management initiative
MARQUETTE PARK LAGOON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT The EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program funded a project to develop and implement green infrastructure projects at Marquette Park and in the surrounding Miller neighborhood.
VACANT TO VIBRANT: GREAT LAKES PILOT INITIATIVE 3 Great Lakes Cities for Pilot Gary, Cleveland & Buffalo Stormwater management Neighborhood stabilization Community benefits Education Job training Reduce Combined Sewer Overflows Measure and monitor results
Green Infrastructure Demonstration Projects Tree plantings Turf to prairie conversion Rain gardens Dry well installation Porous pavers Curb cuts adopt a curb program Community Gardens
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Citizens in Planning Process Community plans Design choices for green infrastructure (forums) Outreach & Education Training workshops Service learning Pilot projects Citizen Science: Data collection Job Training & Creation Green infrastructure installation and maintenance (trainings) AND MORE!!
More On-the-Ground - House Hold Hazardous Waste & Green Awareness Day - Clean Water Celebration - Community & Beach Cleanups/Urban Waters Awareness - Church/school/community education and outreach
Measuring & Monitoring University Engagement Youth engagement in Citizen Science Data collection, analysis and use for neighborhood choices and future plant performance economic potential land use neighborhood health indicators
- PARTNERSHIPS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How can we best incorporate green/sustainability strategies into existing planning and remediation efforts? (i.e. local government strategies, regional efforts, etc ) 2. How do we identify and develop methods that maximize social, economic and environmental benefits of urban revitalization? What methods can be applied basin-wide? 3. What are the information needs, policy gaps and operational barriers and how can they be overcome? Green Infrastructure is evolving. Better understanding of broader triple bottom line benefits and planning approaches is needed to fully capitalize on opportunities. 4. How do we quantify the benefits of green reuse strategies?