three transformational projects in atlanta's proctor creek
DESCRIPTION
2014 Park Pride Parks and Greenspace Conference Presenter is Debra EdelsonTRANSCRIPT
“A water quality, greenway and trail project for Northwest Atlanta.”
PROCTOR CREEK GREENWAY
Debra EdelsonThe Trust for Public Land
WATERSHED CONTEXT
PROJECT OVERVIEW
EXISTING CONDITIONS
o Flooded homes
o Polluted Creek
o Community
disinvestment
o Disconnected
neighborhoods
o Abandoned housing
stock
o Elevated public health
risks
o Skeptical communities
TYPICAL SECTION: PROCTOR CREEK GREENWAY
PARTNERS AND ROLES
Emerald Corridor, LLC• Assembles private lands• Design, permitting and construction of mitigation improvements
The Trust for Public Land• Assembles public/utility lands• Creates new conservancy• Design & construction of trail • Community outreach
City of Atlanta• Participation of City land via access agreement• Long term landowner of assembled and donated lands
FUNDING
PROJECT FUNDING:
$50 million total project investment
Trail = 100% philanthropy (TPL)
Creek mitigation = 100% Private capital (Emerald Corridor)
Mitigation financial mechanism = Credit sales to parties needing USACE permits. Sales “repay” the land and construction costs and provide for 7-years of maintenance.
LAND OWNERSHIP
oCity of Atlanta 29%
o Emerald Corridor 27%
o Atlanta Housing Authority 9%
oOther Property 35%
Emerald Corridor, LLC• 7-year monitoring obligation to maintain creek buffer lands and
water quality
Trust for Public Land• Establishment & incubate new 501 (c) 3 conservancy for day-to-
day management and maintenance
City of Atlanta• Receives donation of all interests in land• Provides limited suite of services—ex: emergency
LONG TERM STEWARDSHIP
A federal program administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers that utilizes
market forces in the form of credits to incentivize private sector companies to invest in cleaning up the nation’s streams, creeks and wetland resources.
MITIGATION BANKING
IMPLEMENTATION
TECHNIQUES
o Stabilization of stream banks
o Removal of pollutants, trash and debris
o Clearing of obstacleso Channel modificationo Addition of storm
water management facilities
o Installing devices to slow water velocity
o Removal of invasive exotics
o Planting of banks in appropriate plants
PERMITTING, DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
Step 1
• Due Diligence and Design• Summer 2010 – Fall 2014
Step 2
• City of Atlanta Review and Approval• Spring 2014
Step 3
• USACE Permitting• Spring 2012 – Fall 2014
Step 4
• Stream Bank Restoration• Spring 2015 – Approximately Summer 2018
Step 5
• Trail and Greenway Construction• Spring 2015– Approximately Fall 2018
Step 6
• Linear Park Opening• Portions open in Approximately Fall 2015
Emerald Corridor
Long Term commitment to community – headquartered adjacent to creek
Trust for Public Land
Leading community education and outreach efforts regarding project implementation, trail connectivity and public access.
City of Atlanta
Collaborative outreach effort in coordination with TPL and EC
Sample of recent meetings:– NPU G, NPU J, NPU D, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA), Proctor Creek
Stewardship Council, Community Building Coalition of Northwest Atlanta (CCNA)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
VISION & COMMITMENT
“The revitalization of Proctor Creek will transformneighborhoods throughout northwest Atlanta. With the help of federal and community partners, including The Trust for Public Land, this effort will spur economic development, connect communities with new recreation opportunities and green space, and integrate critical investments in storm and wastewater management. This public-private partnership demonstrates Atlanta’s commitment to becoming a top-tier sustainable city.”
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
Take-Aways
• Innovative P3 model for funding green infrastructure
• Achieves multiple goals• Chattahoochee River and system gets
cleaned-up• New connectivity to local trail system
For more information about the Proctor Creek Greenway Program:
Debra.Edelson@ tpl.org404.873.7306 x227
Thank you.