policy audit topic: landscape, ecology, open space

8/7/2019 Policy Audit Topic: Landscape, Ecology, Open Space

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/policy-audit-topic-landscape-ecology-open-space 1/74

DECEM

PHASE ONE: RESEARCH AND PRIORPOLICY AUDIT T

LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN S

DECEM



DECEM

PHASE ONE: RESEARCH AND PRIORITIEAUDIT ORGANIZATIO

LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPAC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIESOVERVIEW

OBJECTIVESGUIDING PRINCIPLES

SYNERGIES

METHODOLOGYDATA COLLECTION APPROACH AND SOURCES

EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDSPOLICIES/PLANNING INITIATIVES

EXISTING CONDITIONSDATA RELATIONSHIPS / FINDINGS

PRECEDENTS AND BENCHMARKSCITY PARK SYSTEM PRECEDENTS

RE‐ PURPOSING AND STABLIZATION PRECEDENTS

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONSOPPORTUNITIES / CHALLENGES

THEMATIC DEVELOPMENT

11.11.21.31.4

22.1

33.13.23.3

44.14.2

55.15.2



DECEM

1. OBJECTIVES AND PRIOR



DECEM

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEOBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES

1.2 Objectives

THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE DETROIT PARKS AND RECREATIONDEPARTMENT ARE QUALITY FACILIITES, EQUITY IN ACCESS, AND FACILITYIMPROVEMENTS.

PRINCIPLE 1: FACILITIESThe basic existing facilities and programs are appropriate:

focus primarily on improving them. Pay particular attention

to the needs of youth and elderly.

• Goal 1. Establish a classification system that provides

consistent and sustainable improvement standards for

each type of facility.• Goal 2 . Maintain the current rate of 5.6 acres of

parkland per 1,000 residents.

• Goal 3. Provide locally‐ oriented recreation centers at a

ratio of one per 45,000 to 50,000 residents along with

two city ‐ wide recreation centers.• Goal 4. Provide parks and recreation centers of similar

quality throughout the city.

PRINCIPLE 2: CONVENIENTACCESSLocate parks and recreation centers so residents of all ages

can use them on a regular basis.

• Goal 5. Ensure proper distribution of park land

throughout the city.• Goal 6. Equitably distribute recreation centers to serve

all city neighborhoods.

PRINCIPLE 3: IMPROVEMENAND MAINTENANCEThe system should be one that the city can successfimprove, maintain, and operate.

• Goal 7. Improve service levels by:1. Increasing the average facility size fo

efficient operation, maintenance, anprogramming;

2. Enhancing the quality of facilities; an3. Decreasing the overall number of pa

recreation center sites.

• Goal 8. Make local facilities the priority.• Goal 9. Establish a long ‐ term plan to phase andsystem improvements and improve their operatimaintenance, and programming.

SOURCE , Detroit Recreation Department Strategic Plan1.2



DECEM


1.3 Guiding Principles

BUILDING ON THE GOALS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATIONDEPARTMENT, THIS POLICY AUDIT VIEWS ECOLOGY AND OPEN SPACESYSTEMS AS CENTRAL ORGANIZING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING

ELEMENTS FOR THE CITY.UNDERSTAND THERELATIONSHIPS BETWEENREGIONAL, CITY AND

NEIGHBORHOOD LEVELLANDSCAPES.Landscape, open space, and ecosystems function at a

continuum of scales affecting larger and smaller systems.

The relationship between the landscape and the city, and

nature and people are tied into this system .

UNDERSTAND THATLANDSCAPE PROVIDESBENEFITS TO SOCIAL WELL

BEING AND COMMUNITYHEALTH.Publicly available open spaces provide recreational and

exercise opportunities, remediation potential, and

community pride and stabilization.

PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TODELIVERY OF CITYINFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTIO

THROUGH NATURAL SYSTEWITH LOWERED COST OFDELIVERY.Natural systems usage to establish green infrastrucmore sustainable fiscal costs, re ‐ established ecosysservices at high levels, and provide opportunities fagriculture and eco ‐ recreation.

SOURCE , AECOM1.3



DECEM


LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPAIN DETROIT FUNCTION ATNEIGHBORHOOD, CITY ANDREGIONAL SCALES.Opportunities to link these networks through the uvacant land or emerging landscapes should be expEmerging landscapes include those areas of transitideveloped and maintained lands to a successionallandscape moving toward a more natural state. Thlandscapes and the plants and animals that inhabitprovide greater levels of Ecosystem service than himanicured lands.

Opportunities include:

• Greenways and alternative transportation netw• Wildlife corridors• Green Infrastructure

• Riverine system redevelopment• Ecosystem Service improvements

SOURCE : Detroit Greenways Initiative1.3



DECEM


LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACEPROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO THETRADITIONAL DELIVERY OF CITYRECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTUSERVICES.

Natural systems usage to establish green infrastructure at moresustainable fiscal costs, re ‐ established ecosystem services at higand provide opportunities for urban agriculture and eco ‐ recreat

Opportunities include:

• Green infrastructure for treatment of storm water alleviatingneed to continue to maintain storm sewer systems for portiohighly vacated land and reduce costs associated with meetingrequirements of the Clean Water Act and CSO storage.

• Vacant lands in highly contaminated areas can be ‘turned ovnature to assist in stabilizing contaminated soils and provideremediation as an interim method prior to future redevelopmassessments.

• Re‐ establish ecosystem services to create a healthier and mosustainable Detroit.

SOURCE : Atlanta 2108 City in the Forest

1.3



DECEM

2. METHODOL



DECEM

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEEXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS

PUBLIC/ PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPSACTIVELY DEVELOPING NEWCONNECTIONS IN DETROIT USINOLD INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS

SOURCE : Detroit Riverfront Conservancy – Dequindre Cut Greenway map and photo (AECOM)3.1



DECEM


NATURAL AND REGIONAL ASSETS SUCH AS THE DETROIT RIVER ARE BEING MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THEPUBLIC THROUGH NEW PROJECTS AND OPEN SPACES.

SOURCE : AECOM3.1



DECEM


THE DETROIT PARKS ANDRECREATION STRATEGICMASTER PLAN CONDUCTEDFOUR-STEP PROCESS OFASSESSING FACILITIES,COMMUNITY NEEDS, ANDSTRATEGIES.The 2005 Strategic Master Plan for the Detroit ParkRecreation Department emphasizes maintaining eqaccess for all citizens, improving existing parks andcommunity facilities, and ensuring that the locally

neighborhoods are the primary focus of parks andcommunity centers. Primary concerns relate to lonmaintenance and improvement funding.

SOURCE : DRD Strategic Master Plan3.1

What

do we

have?

What

do we

want?

What

do we

need?

How do

we get

there?



DECEM


DETROIT FACES THE CHALLENGEUNDER-CAPACITY FACILITIES ASCITY POPULATION HAS DECLINE

Shifting and declining populations have created a spatial misbetween the available capacities of a widely dispersed city p

recreation facility system and residential demand.

SOURCE : DRD Strategic Plan3.2



DECEM


DETROIT FACES THE CHALLENGEMAINTAINING PARKS ANDRECREATION FACILIITES ASREVENUE AND POPULATIONDECLINE.

Analysis conducted during the Strategic Master Plan indicatethe vast majority of parks in the system are in poor or fair co




DECEM


PARK PRIORITIZATION EMPHASIZTHE NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST,AND THE SOUTHWEST OF THE CI




DECEM

The current framework for Detroit’s park system is heavily baseddelivery of recreational services to the community. This historicato park development and maintenance has been losing favor amplanners for several years. The shortcomings of this approach tosystem in Detroit is evident in the unstable distribution of populais the basis for the parks system. By establishing a delivery orienapproach the city is reliant on a stable population within a one ‐ hradius of each park. As the population moves and shifts, the parwere created to service these populations undergo a transition tand further non ‐ maintenance.

A newer approach to parks system development has been gaininmomentum for the last couple of decades globally that will helpsome of the issues facing Detroit’s park system as well as providebenefit to the city through an alternative approach to infrastructudelivery, health and wellness, environmental remediation and lastrategies.

By looking at the parks system as a component of a larger landscopen space strategy, additional flexibility can be built into the pato address the changing population distribution and population

larger system creates a sustainable framework for the city’s landallow for enhancements to:

•Ecosystem Services•Stormwater Treatment

•Air

and

water

quality•Environmental remediation•Alternative transportation – bicycles and pedestrian networks•Wildlife corridors•Community gardening and community revitalization•Place making


SOURCE : AECOM modified from Galen Cranz3.2

3.3 Data Relationships and Findings

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES REQUIRE A NEWERLOOK AT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE



O C O C LANDSCAPEECOLOGYOPEN SPACE



DECEM


SOURCE : Source: Miller, 2001; Farr, 2008


ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Increase Revenues: Proximate PrincipleDallas Fort-Worth Metroplex, TX

PROXIMIATE PRINCIPLEMuch research has been completed on the economic benefits of parks and open space; specifically

related to their role in increasing property values. Professor John Crompton from Texas A&M is widely

considered the leading authority in this topic and has identified this notion as the Proximate Principle

The proximate principle deals with the impact of parks and open space on property values and the

property tax base. It essentially states that over time, a park will pay for itself and ultimately increase

the city’s revenues through an enhanced tax base. Many studies that quantify the impact of parks and

open space on property values have been completed over the years but arguably, one of the most

notable and comprehensive studies was completed by a graduate student at MIT. This study looked at

the impact of 14 neighborhood parks in suburban Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. 3,200 home sales

were recorded and analyzed over a 2.5 year (1998 – 2001) period. The 14 neighborhood parks ranged

in scale between 2.5 acres – 7.3 acres. All the parks were considered to be of standard park quality

well within the range of an evenly marginally committed developer. The study found that:

•Homes adjacent to the park (within 100 ft) have a

22.3% price premium relative to homes ½ mile away•Homes within 300 ft . have a 15% price premium

•Homes within 600 ft . have a 5% price premium

•Price

premium

is

Insignificant

after

1,300

ft.



POLICYAUDITTOPIC : LANDSCAPEECOLOGYOPEN SPACE



DECEM




DETROIT’S EXISTING PARK TYPOLOGIES

POLICYAUDITTOPIC : LANDSCAPE,ECOLOGY,OPEN SPACE



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POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACE



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EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS






POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEEXISTINGCONDITIONSAND TRENDS



DECEM

EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS

SOURCE : AECOM3.2



LAFAYETTE PARK – COMMUNITY PARK EXAMPLE CAMPUS MARTIUS –PLAZA PARK EXAMPLE

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEOBJECTIVESAND PRIORITIES



DECEM

OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES


DETROIT’S EXISITING AND EMERGING OPEN SPACES COULD BEORGANIZED INTO TWO MACRO TYPOLOGIES: CULTIVATED ANDUNCULTIVATED

SOURCE , AECOM3.3

Cultivated

parks

communitygardens

commercial

agriculture

Uncultivated

meadows

forests

riparian

buffers

natural

areas

By understanding the role of natural systems and limitations of thdelivery of parks and open spaces within the City of Detroit, a neframework for parks and open spaces should be created. As popshift and additional fiscal and maintenance stresses are put on thsystems, emerging landscapes develop and landscape plays a largwithin the context of the city. By broadly defining landscapes as

or uncultivated a new vocabulary and new typologies are created



DECEM

RESTORING THE HISTORIC,NATURAL LANDSCAPE COULDCREATE AN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEOF OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIOFOR THE CITY.

Detroit’s land was originally comprised of wetlands, swamps,lowland forests, with few mesic to xeric forests.

Much of this historic landscape has been lost to developmentagricultural and urban patterns.

SOURCE : SEMCOG Pre ‐ settlement mapping3.3



DECEM

HISTORIC MAPPING AND LANDCOVER DATA ALLOW US TO“REDISCOVER” THE LOSTLANDSCAPES AND NATURALSYSTEMS OF DETROIT AND MAP

EMERGING LANDSCAPES.

Settlement patterns generally continue to develop around thand waterfront.

SOURCE : various historic maps US Library of Congress3.3




DECEM



First immigration wave occurs along with early industrializatioRiver Savoyard becomes the city’s dump area and is filled in

health concerns.




DECEM



Bloody Run Creek is lost, and Fox Creek is channelized. ConnCreek becomes the last remaining natural hydrological featulandscape. The immediate area surrounding Conner’s Creekdesignated as park land.





DECEM



Conner’s Creek is buried and the associated park land is devefor industrial use. Portions of Fox Creek and Baby Creek are

remaining surface water features in the city.

Detroit’s natural features and systems are lost or compromise

point of diminished ecosystem services as Detroit’s economydevelops and potential use of the land creates higher prioritythe services provided by nature.





DECEM

AS VACANT LAND HAS INCREASEAND URBAN FABRIC IS LOST, A NSERIES OF LANDSCAPES AREBEGINNING TO EMERGETHROUGHOUT DETROIT.

As land is vacated and not maintained, a new series of landscemerging. These emerging landscapes provide challenges anopportunities for the future of Detroit.

SOURCE : PDD 2000 vacant lands

3.3




DECEM

LANDSAT IMAGERY AND VACANCYPATTERNS WITHIN THE CITY SHOWMORE AREAS THAT ARE INCREASININ VEGETATIVE COVER ANDREVERTING TO NATURE.A study conducted by the University of Michigan GIS Departmentshowed strong increases in vegetation between 1975 and 1992 in

several census tracts, particularly on the city's eastside.

When combining these areas identified in 1992 with currentvacancy patterns in the city, the map on the left shows additionalareas of emerging vegetation and indicates the spread of openspace reversion to adjacent neighborhoods.

X

1CLEAR

E V I D E N C E B A S E D

S T R A T E G I C

D I R E C T I O N

2.2

Area that combine lighter green colors with red parcels indicate new clusters of vegetative landscapes emerging in the city since 1992

(shown in red circles)

SOURCE : University of Michigan and AECOM



DECEMSOURCE : Google Earth and AECOM3.3

EMERGING LANDSCAPES OF DET

This diagram highlights the current state of the blocks locatedAlexandrine and St. Aubin Streets. The land has gone throughsuccession and currently exhibits several habitats and forms

version of an urban ecosystem.

Natural pooling is occurring on the site create small ‘urban vwhich are beginning to transition to wetlands. Pockets of meforests provide habitat for wildlife and hold down dust levelsair quality and providing a carbon sink. The site is located in

bed of Bloody Run Creek. If this system were expanded backDetroit river using the vacant parcels, a functioning ecosystemreturned to the city and provide multiple benefits including;

storm water infrastructure needs, clean water, clean air, habipollinators and wildlife, recreation, and non ‐ vehicular linkageriver.




DECEM

EMERGING LANDSCAPES OF DETROIT

SOURCE : Google Earth

3.3

These two images show natural systems emerging on vacant lands in Detroit . This newly forming ecosystem is located near the intersection of East Alexandrine and St. Aubin Streets. The

images show vernal pools and wetlands, meadows and forest systems emerging from the city fabric. The area, originally residential, was demolished prior to 1981 with all of the

ecosystems seen here developing as natural succession occurs. These lands were originally lowland forests with the former Bloody Run Creek bed located in the vicinity. These natural

systems and processes are providing ecosystem services and community benefits, but should be designed to maximize these benefits.




DECEM

HOW DO EMERGING LANDSCAPESCOMPARE WITH PARKS AND RECREATIOCENTERS IDENTIFIED FORREPOSITIONING AND NON-MAINTENANCE?

• Do synergies exist between these identified parks and opportunities

additional open space usage outside of what would typically be conspark?

• Can any of these parks integrate into a larger system with vacant landcreate ecosystem service capacity or public benefit through redevelopor as green infrastructure components?

SOURCE : University of Michigan GIS Department and City of Detroit

3.3



DECEM

4. PRECEDENTS AND BENCHM

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEPRECEDENTS AND BENCHMARKS



DECEM

BENCHMARKINGDETROIT’S PARKSYSTEM

•Tied for 17 th with number of playgrwith 3.4 per 10,000 residents

•Ranks last in funding per resident a$26/resident. Median expenditure

cities is $93/resident.

•Ranks last in operational funding president at $23/resident. Median

expenditure for all cities is $64/resid

•Ranks

near

the

bottom

in

regular

employees per resident at 2.1

employees/10,000 residents. Mediamajor cities is 5.4 employees/10,000residents.

•42nd oldest park in the country (GraCircus) and 27 th most visited park incountry (Belle Isle).

•Below average in parkland as a perof city area and parkland per 1,000

residents.

SOURCE : 2010 City Park Facts, Trust for Public Land

4.1




DECEM

PARK ACREAGE – TOTAL, AS % OF LANDPER 1000 RESIDENTS

Text

Cincinnati OH – 6,817 AC (13.7%)20.5 AC/1000

St.

Louis

MO

– 3,419

AC

(8.6%)9.6 AC/1000 Chicago

IL

– 11,907

AC.

(8.2%)4.2 AC/1000

Detroit MI – 5,921 AC (6.7%)

6.5

AC/1000

SOURCE : AECOM4.1



IN‐ PROGRESS: OCTO

PARK ACREAGE – TOTAL, AS % OF LANDPER 1000 RESIDENTS

Boston MA – 4,897 AC (15.8%)7.9 AC/1000

Pittsburgh PA – 3,120 AC (8.8%)10.1 AC/1000

Buffalo NY – 2,180 AC (8.3%)8.1 AC/1000

Detroit MI – 5,921 AC (6.7%)

6.5

AC/1000

SOURCE : AECOM4.1




IN‐ PROGRESS: OCTO

BENCHMARKING WATER ACCESS

Detroit:•3.5 miles of walking and biking trails currently built, full build out to 5.5 miles•Mostly urban and hard edged with little access to the water•Several parks are linked by the river walk with Milliken State Park and Harbor as the

primary ‘natural’ area

Pittsburgh:•21 miles of walking and biking trails linking the three rivers in Pittsburgh•Multiple large regional parks

•Various conditions from highly natural to very urban and hard edged•Multiple access points to the water.

Chicago:•26 miles of walking and biking trails linking multiple destinations along the lake front•Multiple large regional parks

•Various conditions from highly natural to very urban and hard edged•Multiple access points to the water including beaches, piers and marinas

Cleveland:•9 miles of walking and biking trails•419 acre Lakefront State Park is the center piece•Various conditions from highly natural to very urban and hard edged•Multiple access points to the water including beaches, piers, and marinas

Cincinnati:•4 miles of walking and biking trails•Multiple large regional and natural parks along the river•Part of a larger regional network of parks and trails eventually completing a 75 mile

link between Kentucky and Columbus Ohio

SOURCE : AECOM4.1




DECEM

SAXONY-ANHALT, GERMANY ALTERSPERCEPTIONS OF LOSS THROUGH THECREATIVE RE-USE OF ONCE VACANTSPACES

Declining industrialized cities in the former German Democratic Republi

banded

together

to

investigate

alternative

and

creative

means

to

curb

tcontinued decline of their urbanized areas. The region’s economy, basedsolely on manufacturing and heavy industry, has declined since reunificaPopulation declines of 25% with an additional 30 ‐ 40% projected declinethe region with a need to reorganize its urban areas to incorporate highvacant lands that have become ‘holes’ in the urban fabric. Multiple

interventions have been explored including; village clusters with ‘claimsfor open space, artistic intervention into the landscape to change the peof loss, and to refocus the development patterns within urbanized areasnatural resources into account as a primary driver of urban form.

SOURCE : IBA Cities initiative – Halberstadt4.2

Changing perceptions – local symphony performs in an abandoned recreation center swimming pool.

Linking the ‘holes in the urban landscape’ – new open space interventions provide opportunity for new form




DECEM

RE-IMAGINING CLEVELAND USESNATURAL FEATURES AS THE ORGANIZIFACTOR OF THE CITY.

ReImagining Cleveland is a project that reveals former landscape and nafeatures to become the organizing factor of the city as it moves out of itindustrial shadows to focus growth, deconstruction, and community act

Strategies embedded within the plan include; deriving quantifiable benethe growing inventory of vacant property, promoting opportunities for

revitalization, and linking natural and built systems within the city to imthe quality of life, health and environmental benefits to the citizens of CUsing nature as a primary driver, Cleveland hopes to increase the commself reliance on food and energy production and to create a more sustainvibrant city.

SOURCE : City of Cleveland Planning Commission from ReImagining Cleveland4.2

Land Bank Decision making flow chart for the City of Cleveland




DECEM

THE PHILADELPHIA VACANT LANDSTABLIZATION PROGRAM CREATESPOCKET PARKS AND OTHERMAINTENANCE STRATEGIES ON VACANPARCELS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

The Philadelphia vacant lands stabilization program was developed by thPhiladelphia, Wharton School of Business, and the Pennsylvania horticulsociety to create pocket parks and other maintenance strategies on vacaparcels throughout the city. Levels of development vary from rehabilitatstructures to the incorporation of temporary landscape to full blown parcommunity garden development. The strategy has at its core a series ofinterventions onto publicly acquired parcels of vacant land to either servcommunity need or to hold the parcel in a maintained state until redeve

can occur. To date the program has invested $10m USD and developed

acres of new gardens, pocket parks, and amenities land.

SOURCE : Philadelphia Green4.2




DECEM

MANY CITIES AROUNDTHE WORLD REINTERPRET THEIR

INDUSTRIAL REMNANTS IN CREATIVE SPACES.Around the world communities have developed innovative ways of maintaining the relics of their pastconverting those into new active landscapes.

How could we achieve a similar intervention for Detroit?

How can we repurpose roads to provide stormwater conveyance and treatment outside of the traditioninfrastructure method of piping?

SOURCE : Flickr.com4.2

Seattle Gas Works Park

Duisburg

Nord

– Landschaft

Park

Maurice Rose Airfield – Frankfurt/Main – repurposed runway infrastructure to wetlands and green

infrastructure.




DECEM

MANY CITIES AROUNDTHE WORLDREINTERPRET THEIR INDUSTRIALREMNANTS IN CREATIVE SPACES.

Around the world communities have developed innovative ways of mainthe relics of their past and converting those into new active landscapes.

How could we achieve a similar intervention for Detroit?

SOURCE : Flickr.com4.2

Duisburg Nord – Landschaft Park



DECEM

5. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUS

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : URBAN AGRICULTURE + FOOD SECURITYPRELIMINARY FINDINGS + CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Opportunities + Challenges



DECEMSOURCE:

5.1

SHORT-TERM• Identify land holding strategies that address short to long

term direction for parks and open spaces in the city.

•Identify ‘grey infrastructure’ maintenance and update

needs and evaluate alternate delivery of these needs

through ‘green infrastructure’ systems to create cost

savings and new open spaces.

• Identify opportunities to partner with local artists and

institutions to provide new perceptions of vacated land.

Build upon industrial remnants and historic structures.

• Identify additional open space typologies to incorporate

bio ‐ remediation, phyto ‐ remediation, urban agriculture, and

urban ecology systems.

•Establish better connections between maintenance

regimes based upon newly established typologies.

• Identify community and government partners that are

large land owners within the city to establish potential

exchanges

based

upon

need.

•Identify and categorize emerging landscapes as part of the

open space system to minimize negative environmental and

safety aspects of vacant lands.

LONG-TERM•Identify a land holding entity for long term open and

ecological spaces or change the charter of the Detroit Parks

Department to include open and natural spaces as part of their purview.

•Identify lands that should become part of the urban fabric

as permanent open and natural spaces.

•Establish a long term maintenance strategy that does not

create a separation between the maintenance aspects of parks and the planning and operations components.

•Identify highly contaminated sites which are not likely to

redevelop in the next 10+ years for long term holding

strategies.

•Identify funding mechanisms with community groups,

state and federal funding to establish additional value

within the parks and open space system.

POLICY AUDIT TOPIC : LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY, OPEN SPACEPRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS



DECEM

EMERGING LANDSCAPES PRESENTCHALLENGES RELATED TO PERCEPTIONOF COMMUNITY DECLINE AND UNSAFCONDITIONS AND INFRASTRFUCTUREDECAY.Challenges of the non ‐ maintained landscape:

• Landscapes that revert to a non ‐ maintained state tend to continue tostabilize neighborhoods. Just as neglected and vacant homes stressfabric of a neighborhood, ‘overgrown’ landscapes show the same coof effect.

• Public health hazards may be created by lack of maintenance includinmosquito borne illnesses, illegal dumping, illegal activities.

• Other infrastructure may suffer as a result of these non ‐ maintained

landscapes. Storm water and water infrastructure decays due to clogcorrosion. Streets become stressed as the systems designed to remoand snow are no longer functional or employed.

• Community perception of their area tends to decline as a result of thperception of the lost rather than a focus on what is gained as a resuespecially true in older residents with a memory of the ‘good times’

associated with the place lost or the people associated with those pl

• As nature advances on these non ‐ maintained landscapes structural dwill occur to historic properties and features of the urban landscape.

SOURCE : Google Earth5.1




DECEM

EMERGING LANDSCAPES PRESENTOPPORTUNITIES FOR A NEW PATHFORWARD.

Opportunities embedded within the non ‐ maintained landscape:

• Allowing emerging landscapes to continue to revert to a natural sta

presents

an

opportunity

for

land

management

at

a

lower

cost

thantraditionally maintained landscapes and open spaces.

• New natural systems can allow the recreation of ecosystem servicecity. Ecosystem services would include cleaning the air, water and

• Creates habitat and resources for pollinators which are necessary fagricultural development either community based or commercial ta sustainable way in the urban environment.

• More sustainable and cost effective means of treating storm waterconveyance and treatment than manmade systems.

SOURCE : Google Earth5.1



WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE




DECEM

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEEXISTING CITY PARK SYSTEM?

• Although a little below average as it relates to other comparable ciDetroit park system suffers from larger issues that relate to the desthe system around recreation and service delivery. This pattern dowork well with a shifting population and declining tax revenues.

SOURCE : Detroit Parks and Recreation department and AECOM5.2



WHAT IFWE IDENTIFIEDALLTHEVACA




DECEM

WHAT IF WE IDENTIFIED ALL THE VACAAND UNDERUTILIZED INDUSTRIALLANDS AND TRANSFORMED THEM INTONEW OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONALNETWORK?

Opportunities could include:

• Using the “remnants of Detroit’s industrial heritage” for recreationapurposes:

• rock climbing• amphitheaters• outdoor gymnasiums• gardens

• Converting some select industrial corridors that are no longer viablgreen zones that can be remediated and links to existing parks

areas/neighborhoods that have high volumes of vacant land



WHAT IF WE BROUGHT ALL OF THE



DECEM

WHAT IF WE BROUGHT ALL OF THEBURIED CREEKS TO THE SURFACE?

• Bloody Run Creek has been studied

• Conner Creek ‐ a park as late as the 30s• Baby Creek and Fox Creek ‐ partially at surface• Re‐ establishes eco ‐ system services lost to development and decrea

dependence on grey infrastructure.

• Establishes eco ‐ corridors and connections between existing parks aspaces effectively creating a landscape network to improve the quathe city.

• Continues to build upon ‘green infrastructure’ initiatives along the

Rouge.• Creates a broader network of open space, ecosystem function and

more and better direct access to the Detroit river to city residents.



WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITHVACANT



DECEM

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH VACANTAND UNDERUSED LAND?

• Vacant land is currently viewed as an issue in Detroit, but from theAnhalt IBA studies, we know that ‘holes’ in the urban fabric can bechange the perception and function of not only the city but the largregion. In several of the cities studied in Saxony Anhalt, art intervenand performances were incorporated to change the public’s percep

from lost place to new place.• These vacant lands are currently yielding to emerging landscapes

throughout the city, creating huge potential for newer more sustainopen space systems to create a new fabric for the city or hold landsproductive way for short to mid range periods of time.


policy audit topic: landscape, ecology, open space

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