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DCNR's Perspective Outlined At CitiesAlive 2011 Conference
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A diverse group of business representatives, scientists, environmentalists and planners recently converged on Philadelphia to discuss how green infrastructure can benefit urban areas.
Joining them was DCNR Deputy Secretary John Giordano, who outlined several projects that DCNR supports in line with those discussed at the CitiesAlive Conference.
“DCNR’s new outdoor recreation plan, which sets our strategies for parks, sustainable green infrastructure and active and passive greenways was recently named the best in the nation,” said Giordano, speaking Thursday night, December 1, at a reception for CitesAlive 2011 attendees. “DCNR does much of this nationally acclaimed work through partnerships with cities, townships and like-minded organizations.”
In a four-day series of lectures, trade shows, workshops and tours ending Saturday, Dec. 3, the ninth annual Conference highlighted how green technology can contribute to Philadelphia's multi-billion dollar plan to utilize green infrastructure to revitalize its urban waters.
The prevailing theme: green roofs and walls are key components in restoring vital water resources in the urban environment; reducing “islands” of heat in cities; and improving the health and well-being of communities.
“Working for DCNR and living here in Philadelphia, I am privileged to see firsthand the result of DCNR’s support for city projects with strong environmental considerations, such as the Race Street Pier, the Philadelphia Art Museum roof and the Thomas Jefferson University roof,” Giordano said at the conference reception at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. “These investments hit the triple bottom line—smart economics, smart community revitalization and smart ecosystem restoration.”
“A recent report conducted by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the GreenSpace Alliance and supported by DCNR found that if our parks, open spaces and green roofs in Southeast Pennsylvania were lost, it would cost more than $132 million per year to do what these spaces do—in terms of storm-water infrastructure, health care costs, air pollution, flood mitigation.”
The DCNR deputy secretary took his listeners back to a mid-September West Philadelphia park dedication in which DCNR, the City of Philadelphia and area neighbors celebrated renovations at the 3.6-acre Clara Muhammad Square. DCNR provided $150,000 in grant funds toward the tract at 47th Street and Lancaster Avenue, an investment in green infrastructure where, Giordano said, “the economics are clearly substantial.”
“Statistics were cited that several new businesses had specifically picked a location next to that park to start up their enterprises; the crime rate in the area had dropped; the community gathering place was the park.” Giordano said. “The park space was key to an uptick in property value, new jobs coming into the area, better storm-water management and community cohesion.”
The conference’s origin can be traced back to 1999, when Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a small network consisting of public and private organizations, was founded as a direct result of a research project on the benefits of green roofs and barriers to industry development.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - North America Inc. is now a rapidly growing, not-for-profit industry association. The Philadelphia gathering afforded visitors a chance to learn from experts in research, policy, design, and product development for green roofs, walls and other forms of green infrastructure.
The four-day conference was co-hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the City of Philadelphia. Giordano acknowledged the Horticultural Society, a “long-standing partner of DCNR that has worked together on the TreeVitalize Program since its inception in 2004 to plant more than 20,000 trees in Southeastern Pennsylvania alone—in residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, schools, parks and watershed parks.”
“The TreeVitalize program improves livability of our neighborhoods and community cohesion as well as storm-water management, flood control and improving air quality. Since its start in Philadelphia, this program is now statewide in twelve metropolitan areas.”
Giordano also commended the work of the City of Philadelphia and its GreenWorks Philadelphia Sustainability Program. DCNR has been an active partner with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department on Green 2015, which seeks to meet the goal of ensuring all city residents are within a quarter mile of a park or green space.
(Reprinted from DCNR's December 7 Resource online newsletter.)
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12/12/2011 |
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