Green Infrastructure

1. Green Infrastructure The Fundamentals Created by the Mid South Greenways Steering Committee

2. An interconnected network of… Natural areas Conservation lands Working lands Open Spaces that sustains “our natural life-support system” Source—Green Infrastructure. 2006. Mark A. Benedict and Edward T. McMahon

3. Why Green Infrastructure? • Term coined in relation to grey infrastructure (or, the built environment such as roads, utility lines, sewer systems, bridges etc.) • Elevate concern and attention for natural assets • Emphasize importance as essential part of successful community

4. The Network Design • A true green infrastructure network consists of a system of hubs, links,and sites HUB Site HUB Site Site Regional Link HUB Source—Green Infrastructure. 2006. Mark A. Benedict and Edward T. McMahon

5. The Network Design: Hubs • Hubs are large tracts of land. They serve as anchors to the green infrastructure network providing for crucial habitat and ecological processes HUB HUB HUB

6. The Network Design: Hubs • Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park and Natural Area consists of 13,467 acres of upland and bottomland forest. • There is a paved road network, biking and hiking trails, and a boat launch into the Mississippi River.

7. The Network Design: Hubs • Overton Park, 184 acres in the center of Memphis with 126 acres of old growth forest contained in the Old Forest State Natural Area • Overton Park Conservancy formed in 2011 to oversee maintenance and enhancement of park

8. The Network Design: Links • Links are the connections between Hubs that facilitate movement of people and wildlife. They can be paths, bike lanes, or natural corridors such as rivers.

9. The Network Design: Links • Shelby Farms Greenline • 6.7m paved multiuse trail connecting many Memphis neighborhoods to Shelby Farms Park

10. The Network Design: Links • Johnson Creek Greenway • 8 miles of paved trail intended for hiking and biking along utility easements connecting Highway 61 and Baldwin Road near Horn Lake.

11. The Network Design: Sites • Sites are smaller in area, but have ecological and/or social value to the system. They might include neighborhood parks or specific habitats for native fauna. Site Site Site

12. The Network Design: Sites • Desoto County Visitor Center Trail • 1/4m paved interpretive trail that introduces visitors to the Desoto County Greenways mission and goals

13. The Network Design: Sites • Riverwoods State Natural Area, 21 acres • Managed by the City of Germantown and integrated into their greenways system, yet owned by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)

14. The Network Design • The network is only fully functioning when all components are in place. • Think regionally and link assets on a larger scale. HUB Site HUB Site Site Regional Link HUB

15. Economic Benefits of the Network • An integrated network provides both direct and indirect economic benefits: • Direct • Increase Property Values • Develop High-Dollar Ecotourism • Conserve Working Lands • Offset Resource Maintenance Costs • Enhance Multimode Transportation • Indirect • Improve Quality of Life • Advance Public Health • Retain Ecological Stability • Create Social Capital • Establish a Sense of Place

16. Economic Benefits from the Network: Direct • Increase Property Values • Average 5% increase if within 500 feet of park or greenway • Develop High-Dollar Ecotourism • 87% of cycling tourists earn more than $50,000 annually • Conserve Working Lands • Timber Industry in MS in 2006 accounted for more than 123,000 jobs or 8.5% of the state’s workforce • Offset Resource Maintenance Costs • A 50 year old urban tree saves $75/year in air conditioning, $75/year in storm water control, and $50/year in pollution control • Enhance Multimode Transportation • Family income spend on transportation in an auto-dependent neighborhood= 25% • Family income spent on transportation in a transit-rich neighborhood=9% Sources—TPL, Measuring the Value of a City Park System; American Forestry Association; MS Forestry Commission; Ed McMahon and Mark Benedict, Green Infrastructure; Adetokunbo “Toks” Omishakin, Smart Streets Conference

17. Economic Benefits from the Network: Indirect • Improve Quality of Life • Residents more likely to walk or bike if trail connects community • Recreation a leading factor in attracting new residents • AdvancePublic Health • Publichealth statistics a factor for companies looking to relocate when evaluating potential healthcare costs to insure workers • 1/5 of all healthcare spending in the US is on obesity-related illness • Retain Ecological Stability • Hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching industries depend upon it • These industries accounted for $2.6B in economic impact for MS in 2006 • Create Social Capital • Fostering community interaction thereby creating new social networks • Establish a Sense of Place • Emotional bonds to community formed through perceived physical beauty and opportunities for socializing. • Communities with highest emotional bonds had highest rate of GDP growth Sources—Moudon et al: Cycling and the Built Environment; All Things Considered: NPR; MS State University Natural Resources Enterprises; Anglin: Community Perceptions; Gallup: 2010 Soul of the Community Survey

18. How are we doing? • National Recognition Memphis was chosen as one of the six nationwide selections for the Bikes Belong Green Lane Project Sources—TPL: Parkscore

19. How are we doing? • Public Polling from 2010-2011 Sources—Anglin 2010: Community Perceptions of the Shelby Farms Greenline; Memphis MPO Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, 2011 updated.

20. How are we doing? • Major funding opportunity: Shelby County awarded a $2.6M HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant to draft the Mid South Regional Greenprint, a regional planning document for green infrastructure to guide development.

21. Mid South Greenways An Effort to Organize • Voluntary ad hoc group of stakeholders for sustainable, integrated green infrastructure development. • Mission: To unite the voices and strengthen the efforts of stakeholders in sustainable greenways development in the Mid South. • Vision: An interconnected and sustainable system of greenways, blueways, parks, trails, bike lanes, working lands, wilderness areas, and open spaces to enhance quality of life in the Mid South.