Engaging community members in the design, implementation and care of green infrastructure

1. Engaging community members in the design, implementation and care of green infrastructure Green Infrastructure Conference Syracuse, NY November 17, 2010 Maren King, Director, SUNY ESF CCDR Rebecca Kanfer, Master of Landscape Architecture candidate SUNY ESF Center for Community Design Research One Forestry Drive Syracuse, NY 315-470-4721 www.esf.edu/ccdr

2. SUNY ESF Center for Community Design Research • Facilitates projects where students and citizens work together, learn from each other and serve the wider society • Grounded in the practices of • Community Design • Placemaking “To decide to be someplace as members of a community demands that we become active placemakers again, that we participate with others in our communities in thoughtful, careful, responsible action .” Placemaking, Linda Schneekloth and Robert Shibley

3. Green Infrastructure Planning: Incorporating the Benefits of Community Engagement • Gather local knowledge • Share local and expert knowledge • Create community dialogue and consensus • Understand issues and opportunities • Build support and partnerships McGroarty Park Danforth Middle School

4. The Basic Principles • Have an engaged community partner • Explore the relationship of people and place • Provide opportunities for meaningful contributions • Respect and acknowledge the community contributions • Creatively integrate new knowledge and information • Extend involvement into implementation

5. McGroarty Park

6. The ESSENTIAL Foundation:An Engaged Community Partner McGroarty Park

7. Explore the relationship of people and place McGroarty Park • What are the physical and social characteristics of the neighborhood and park? • What does the park mean to the residents?

8. Provide opportunities for meaningful contributions McGroarty Park • Provide facilitation • Create safe place for dialogue • How you ask questions matters

9. Provide opportunities for meaningful contributions McGroarty Park

10. Respect and acknowledge community contribution Goals • Through the redevelopment of McGroarty Park our neighborhood desires to create and sustain a green open space that: • Contributes positively to the traditional residential image and character of the neighborhood • Supports a strong sense of welcome, community and belonging • Provides a setting for neighborhood gathering and relaxation • Promotes reflection on the lives of those that sacrifice for the common good • Encourages neighborhood stewardship and partnership with the city McGroarty Park • Record • Organize • Analyze • Synthesize • Apply • Confirm

11. Creatively integrate new knowledge and information Norris Square Park, Philadelphia, PA McGroarty Park • Park design process • Experiential/applied learning • Green infrastructure • Illustrated presentation • Application in design studies • Park stewardship • Illustrated presentation • Brainstorm of strategies Benefits of G.I.

12. Extend involvement into project implementation McGroarty Park • Action strategies • Completion of a descriptive final master plan • Green infrastructure installation • Follow-up guidance

13. Danforth Middle School Garden

14. The ESSENTIAL Foundation:An Engaged Community Partner Danforth Middle School

15. Explore the relationship of people and place Danforth Middle School • How are gardens meaningful/ beneficial in a school setting? • What community resources are available to the school?

16. Provide opportunity for meaningful contributions Danforth Middle School • Design process planning • Student workshops • Design implementation

17. Provide opportunity for meaningful contributions Danforth Middle School What do we need to know to design a garden? What does a garden mean to you? “The most important thing about my garden is that it is peaceful and looks with no harm with animals that get along (birds). It has a path to heaven.” -Raven “The reason I like my garden is because it will make me feel calm and relaxed. My garden would be my Secret Garden. My Garden would be a place I would go to clear my head and think, sing, and write things.” -Moni

18. Respect and acknowledge community contribution Danforth Middle School • Analysis and coding of student drawings and narrative • Process revealed a powerful message • Development of themes

19. Respect and acknowledge community contribution Danforth Middle School Native Woodland Urban Agriculture Neighborhood Ornamental garden Outdoor classroom

20. Creatively integrate new knowledge and information Danforth Middle School • Workshops with hands on activities • Images • Narrative • Drawings • Activities integrated into 8th grade art and earth science classes

21. Extend involvement into project implementation Danforth Middle School • Field trip to local greenhouse for plant selection • Garden planting • Ongoing care and development of future phases

22. Closing Thoughts: • Cast your net broadly – invite broad participation • Provide guidance and continuity • Nurture the network