Public Forum: Issues, Goals, Vision

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Public Forum Issues, Goals, Vision
January 23, 24 and 25, 2007
Presented by
Wallace Roberts Todd, LLC
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Consulting Team

• Wallace Roberts Todd, LLC prime consultant,
  open space and green infrastructure planning,
  urban design, landscape architecture
• PROS Consulting, LLC park facilities and
  operations management
• ETC Institute/Leisure Vision statistical survey
  
• Advanced Technology Systems geographical
  information systems (GIS)
• Malvada Consulting Group public outreach
• Metro Girl web design

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Agenda

• What is Project Greenspace?
• What are the Benefits of Greenspace?
• What is Atlantas Greenspace?
• Process and Schedule
• Findings to Date
• Information sources
• Issues summary
• Citizen Feedback
• Do you agree with the preliminary goals?
• Which types of greenspace are important to you?
• Comments

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What is Project Greenspace?

• Project Greenspace is an initiative to develop a
  world class open space system in Atlanta that
  connects people to parks, recreational
  facilities, plazas, streetscapes, greenways, and
  sensitive lands.

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What are the benefits of greenspace?

• Greenspace improves environmental quality
• preserves natural resources and native habitats
  in urban areas
• protects water resources through natural rather
  than engineered stormwater management
• cools the urban landscape, which reduces energy
  consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
• cleans air by filtering pollution and producing
  oxygen
• improves water quality by filtering pollutants

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What are the benefits of greenspace?

• Greenspace improves community health
• promotes outdoor recreation
• promotes exercise and physical activity
• reduces incidence of chronic diseases such as
  asthma, cardiovascular disease, and obesity
• brings people into contact with nature
• provides a place for neighbors to meet neighbors
• provides a respite for urban congestion

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What are the benefits of greenspace?

• Greenspace is the framework for a sustainable
  economy
• improves quality of life
• attracts businesses and increases economic
  activity
• increases property values
• lowers energy costs
• increases worker productivity and reduces
  healthcare costs
• reduces costs of engineered gray infrastructure
• provides access to local retail areas via walking
  and biking

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What is Atlantas greenspace?
greenspace

• - Park land
• - Private open space (e.g. cemeteries)
• Institutional land holdings
• Gathering places

- Recreation centers - Museums - Historic sites
Rec-reation Cultural Areas
City Parks Open Spaces
(plazas, great lawns, etc.)
greenspace
greenspace
COMMUNITY VISION VALUES

• - Vacant land
• - Schools
• - Tax delinquencies
• Utility ROWs
• Future development

• - Tree cover
• - Steep slopes
• Rivers and streams
• wetlands
• floodplain

New Green-space
Natural Areas
greenspace
greenspace
Connec-tions
Beltline - Trails - Pathways - Streetscapes
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Greenspace Plan Schedule

• Phase 1 Project Initiation and Community
  Outreach Plan (September 2006)
• Phase 2 Data Collection / Inventory and Analysis
  (October 2006)
• Phase 3 Greenspace Plan Development (March 2007)
  
• Phase 4 Strategic Implementation Program (May
  2007)
• Phase 5 Draft and Final Plan Preparation (August
  2007)

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Findings to Date Information Sources

• Previous Plans / Ongoing Initiatives
• 1993 Parks, Opens Space and Greenways Plan
• Numerous studies and recommendations
• Input
• Advisory Task Force meetings
• Stakeholder interviews
• focus Group meetings
• Initial Inventory / Data Review
• GIS mapping and analysis
• Regulatory review
• Demographic projections

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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 1. Funding for Atlantas parks and greenspaces
  needs to be significantly increased.
• A prerequisite for all other issues to be
  addressed
• Dedicated funding is essential

Funding has increased, but
remains comparatively less than other cities.
Other Cities Year 2000 Budget
per Resident
DPRCA General Fund Budget
2000 24,100,000 2001 22,400,000 2003
18,900,000 2007 25,800,000 per Resident
(2000) 58
Chicago 371,000,000 Minneapolis
55,000,000 Portland 53,000,000 Seattle
90,000,000 Denver 57,000,000 Philadelphia
79,000,000
128 144 101 160 103 52
Sources DPRCA Initiatives
2001-2006 Mayor Franklins Parks and Greenspaces
Report, 2002
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 2. Atlanta does not have enough greenspace.
  Existing greenspace is
• Not always accessible
• Not connected
• Not equitably distributed

National Average 19.1
1993 Plan 10.5
Atlanta 7.4
Park Acreage per 1,000 residents
Source Atlanta Parks, Open Space, and
Greenways Plan, 1993 Year 2000 census data
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• Parks Accessibility
• only 20 of the population lives within the ¼
  mile street network of a city park entrance

Source Center for Geographic Information
Systems, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 3. Atlantas recreational facilities and programs
  are in need of improvements. Needs include
• Better distribution within the community
• Upgraded facilities

A recreational analysis and needs assessment will
be conducted as part of Project Greenspace to
address this issue.
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• The Citys parks need to be better maintained.
• Indicators of Progress
• DPRCA has established key success measures to
  improve performance on selected maintenance
  activities
• Increased funding and staffing is a key

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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 5. Public safety needs to be improved in
  Atlantas parks.
• Indicators of Progress
• Security and sports lighting
• Surveillance cameras
• Design for safety (Crime Prevention Through
  Environmental Design)

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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 6. Atlantas parks and greenspaces could function
  better as community gathering spaces.
• A major outdoor special events venue
• Informal gathering spaces
• Improved design quality
• Enhanced community identity (heritage, art,
  culture)

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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 7. Stewardship of environmental resources could
  be protected.
• Atlanta has lost 60 of its natural tree cover
  over the last 20 years(source Trees Atlanta)
• Resources such as steep slopes and stream
  corridors could be better protected
• Invasive plants are a major problem

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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 8. Gray infrastructure is impacting park and
  greenspace resources.
• Transportation system designed for cars to the
  exclusion of other modes / traffic congestion and
  air quality impacts
• Combined Sewer Overflow Consent Decree
  billions in engineering improvements to address
  water pollution
• Impacts of city facilities located within parks

Can gray and green infrastructure be
integrated to promote walking, biking, transit,
and natural, multi-functional stormwater
management solutions?
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 9. Population growth is magnifying needs for
  greenspace, improved recreational facilities and
  programs, and protection of environmental
  resources.

2030 846,800
2025 790,847
2020 730,021
City Population Trends
2015 664,039
Source Speer Demographics for the City of
Atlanta, 2006
2010 592,604
2005 511,240
2000 416,474
1990 394,017
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Findings to Date Issues Summary
City Population Trends
2000
2030
63,725 82
413,509
842,973
77,396
141,121
40,201 86
137,420 178
77,248
214,668
47,003
87,204
49,270
94,842
48,805
102,260
45,572 92
59,879 98
61,165
121,044
53,455 110
29,212 56
52,622
81,834
Source Speer Demographics for the City of
Atlanta, 2006
The sum of projections by study area do not equal
the total city projections due to the
reapportionment process.
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Findings to Date Issues Summary

• 10. What can be done to create a comprehensive
  greenspace system to serve the Citys projected
  population?
• Acquisition / easements on available land
  resources
• Improved development regulations and processes
• Redevelopment of brownfields / other previously
  developed properties
• Partnerships with governmental and institutional
  landowners (e.g., Atlanta Public Schools)

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Citizen Feedback Preliminary Goals

• Based on previous plans and the findings to date,
  preliminary goals have been established for
  Project Greenspace.
• Do you agree with the preliminary goals?
• Indicate whether you disagree (1), are
  neutral (2), or agree (3) on the form
  provided
• Circle only one
• Make sure the goal number on the screen and the
  goal number on the form correspond
• Include your comments or identify additional
  goals that you feel are missing (optional)

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Greenspace Goals Parks and Recreation

• Goal 1 Significantly increase the acreage of
  core parkland
• Set a target of 10.5 acres of core parkland per
  1,000 persons
• Double the amount of park acreage to 6,202 acres
• Ensure park access within a ½ mile street network
  for every resident

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Greenspace Goals Parks and Recreation

• Goal 1 Significantly increase the acreage of
  core parkland.
• set a target of 10.5 acres of core parkland per
  1,000 persons
• double the amount of park acreage to 6,202 acres
• ensure park access within a ½ mile street network
  for every resident

Goal 2 Develop greenways with multi-use trails
to connect parks and greenspaces.
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Greenspace Goals Parks and Recreation

• Goal 1 Significantly increase the acreage of
  core parkland.
• set a target of 10.5 acres of core parkland per
  1,000 persons
• double the amount of park acreage to 6,202 acres
• ensure park access within a ½ mile street network
  for every resident

Goal 2 Develop greenways with multi-use trails
to connect parks and greenspaces.
Goal 3 Continue to improve park maintenance and
security.
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Greenspace Goals Parks and Recreation

• Goal 1 Significantly increase the acreage of
  core parkland.
• set a target of 10.5 acres of core parkland per
  1,000 persons
• double the amount of park acreage
• ensure park access within a ½ mile street network
  for every resident

Goal 2 Develop greenways with multi-use trails
to connect parks and greenspaces.
Goal 3 Continue to improve park maintenance and
security.
Goal 4 Continue to improve recreational
facilities and programs to meet citizens needs.
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Greenspace Goals Natural Resources
Goal 5 Permanently protect environmentally
sensitive lands such as floodplains, wetlands,
and natural habitat areas.
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Greenspace Goals Natural Resources
Goal 5 Permanently protect environmentally
sensitive lands such as floodplains, wetlands,
and natural habitat areas.

• Goal 6 Protect and restore Atlantas tree
  canopy.
• Increase tree cover to 40

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Greenspace Goals Community
Goal 7 Increase the function of parks and
greenspaces as community gathering areas and
establish a major venue for special events and
festivals.
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Greenspace Goals Community
Goal 7 Increase the function of parks and
greenspaces as community gathering areas and
establish a major venue for special events and
festivals.
Goal 8 Integrate Atlantas history, cultural
heritage, and arts into the greenspace system as
an expression of community identity.
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Greenspace Goals Implementation
Goal 9 Establish a source of funding for parks
and greenspace.
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Greenspace Goals Implementation
Goal 9 Establish a source of funding for parks
and greenspace.

• Goal 10 Promote public and private partnerships
  to grow the greenspace system, e.g.
• Atlanta Public Schools
• Colleges, universities, and other institutions
• Private land owners

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Greenspace Goals Implementation
Goal 9 Establish a source of funding for parks
and greenspace.

• Goal 10 Promote public and private partnerships
  to grow the greenspace system
• Atlanta Public Schools
• colleges, universities. and other institutions
• private land owners

Goal 11 Promote and coordinate dedicated
greenspace within development and redevelopment
and redevelopment projects
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Citizen Feedback Preliminary Goals

• Please take this time to include your comments or
  identify additional goals that you feel are
  missing at the bottom of your form (optional).

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Citizen Feedback Potential Types of Greenspace

• The following images illustrate a variety of
  greenspace types.
• Which types of greenspace are important to you?
• Indicate whether each is not important (1),
  neutral (2), or important (3) on the form
  provided
• Circle only one
• Make sure the image number on the bottom-left of
  the screen and the image number on the form
  correspond

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Parks Open Spaces regional park with major
activities
1
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Parks Open Spaces neighborhood park
2
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Parks Open Spaces beauty spot
3
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Parks Open Spaces parks integrated with
development
4
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Parks Open Spaces active recreation
5
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Parks Open Spaces passive recreation
6
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Parks Open Spaces security and safety
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Community Gathering Spaces plazas
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Community Gathering Spaces places for special
events
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Community Gathering Spaces places for regular
events and street life
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Community Gathering Spaces places for
neighborhood events
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Community Gathering Spaces community gardens
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Natural Cultural Resources stream bank
protection and restoration
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Natural Cultural Resources forested areas
14
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Natural Cultural Resources public art
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Greenspace Connections streetscapes
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Greenspace Connections multi-purpose trails
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Greenspace Connections stream and river corridors
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Greenspace Connections trails connected to your
neighborhood
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Photo Courtesy www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan
Burden
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Gray vs. Green Infrastructure
congested, unsafe, and unattractive streets
vs.
green, attractive, multi-modal boulevards
Gray vs. Green Infrastructure streets and
boulevards
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vacant industrial sites
vs.
new parks and recreation areas
Gray vs. Green Infrastructure brownfield site
redevelopment
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conventional storm water detention pond
vs.
storm water detention pond integrated with
greenspace
Gray vs. Green Infrastructure storm water
management
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rip-rapped stream channel
vs.
stream channel integrated with greenspace
Gray vs. Green Infrastructure stream channel
treatment
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Visit us online at
www.atlantagreenspace.com