resilient parks & open space in the southwest

MIMI BURNS, ASL A , LEED APRESILIENT PARKS

N E W M E X I C O R E C R E A T I O N & P A R K S A S S O C I A T I O N | 1 1 . 5 . 1 5

The ability of a system to absorb disturbances and still retain its basic function and structure

WHAT IS RESILIENCY?

A Social-ecological System which consists of a bio-geo-physical’ unit and its associated social actors and institutions.

WHAT IS THE SYSTEM?

SOCIAL-ECOLOGICALSYSTEMS (SES)

• Humans and nature are strongly coupled and co-evolving, and should therefore be conceived of as one “social-ecological” system.

• Complex systems are rarely static and linear, instead they are often in constant flux, highly unpredictable and self-organizing, with feedbacks across time and space.

SOCIAL-ECOLOGICALSYSTEMS

There are no natural systems without people.

There are no social systems without nature.


Heard of this before? Maybe not. This is new and still in an exploratory stage.

There are opportunities for new perspectives and creative approaches. Why not in New Mexico and the Southwest!


Types • Park

• Open Space

• Neighborhood, City, Region

• Urban Waterfront

• Urban Watershed

• Political Border Area

• Berg/Animas Trail

• Farmington

• Four Corners

Examples

RESILIENCE

H T T P S : / / C I T I E S S P E A K . F I L E S . W O R D P R E S S .C O M / 20 13 / 0 2 / R E S I L I E N C E _ D I A G 1 . J P G

H T T P : / / P R E V I E W S . 1 23 R F. C O M / I M A G E S /M A R I G R A N U L A / M A R I G R A N U L A 1 506 /

M A R I G R A N U L A 150601240 / 4 0767380 - D I A G R A M - O F -R E S I L I E N C E - S TO C K - P H O TO . J P G

RESILIENCE VS. SUSTAINABILITY

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Sustainability"… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Resilience (revised!)The adaptive capacity of a social-ecological system to experience shocks and stresses while retaining function, structure, feedbacks and, therefore, identity.


CHARACTERISTIC: DENSITY

Sustainability: • Density is an asset that furthers efficiency and

economy

Resilience:• Density can be an asset- allowing shared use

of urban systems like infrastructure, social institutions, and economic flows of materials and resources

• Density can also be a vulnerability – where one shock can take out a hierarchy of social-ecological systems

RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY-ARE THE CONCEPTS AT ODDS?

RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY- ARE THE CONCEPTS AT ODDS?

CHARACTERISTIC SUSTAINABILIT Y RESILIENCE

SOCIAL/ECOLOGICAL

ADDRESSED INDEPENDENTLY

ADDRESSED AS ONE ENTIT Y

REDUNDANCY NO- EFFICIENCY YES- REQUIRED

STABILIT Y YES-DESIRED NO- CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

ADAPTATION NO YES- IN RESPONSE TO CHANGE

TRANSFORMATION NO YES- DUE TO ADAPTATION

Urban planning, governance, and management for both resilience and sustainable futures can ensure resilience goals that overlap and support sustainability goals.


RESILIENCE / SHOCKS & STRESSES

THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF A SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM TO EXPERIENCE SHOCKS AND STRESSES WHILE RETAINING FUNCTION, STRUCTURE, FEEDBACKS AND, THEREFORE, IDENTITY.

ShocksFlooding, wildfire, earthquakes, hurricanes, tidal waves, civil unrest, heat wave, tornado, terrorism, war, stock market crash…


StressesUrban heat island effect, poverty, crime, drought, poor water or air quality, chronic water or food shortages, homelessness, unemployment, hunger, inefficient public transportation, educational disparities, declining population, aging infrastructure, income inequality, lack of affordable housing, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, cyber risk…


Stresses and shocks in New Mexico and the SW- what are the key resilience issues in your community?


INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WITH PARKS/RECREATION/OPEN SPACE

“…OPEN SPACE REALLY HELPS COMMUNIT Y RESILIENCE: PHYSICAL RESILIENCE, [AND] HOLISTIC WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS…”

B i l l Y p s i l a n t i s , F E M A

INCREASING COMMUNITY

RESILIENCE WITH PARKS/RECREATION/

OPEN SPACE

Physical Resilience/Green Infrastructure

Human Health and Wellbeing

Creating an interconnected system of parks and open space is manifestly more beneficial than creating parks in isolation.

PHYSICAL RESILIENCE/GREEN

INFRASTRUCTURE

Cities can use parks to help preserve essential ecological functions and to protect biodiversity.


INFRASTRUCTURE

When planned as part of a system of green infrastructure, parks can help shape urban form and buffer incompatible uses.


INFRASTRUCTURE

Cities can use parks to reduce public costs for stormwater management, flood control, transportation, and other forms of built infrastructure.


INFRASTRUCTURE

HUMAN HEALTH & WELLBEING

Parks increase physical activity, which reduces the impact of chronic diseases on human health.


Parks facilitate social gathering and integration, in an era of increasing social isolation.


Parks also serve as community event locations, emergency centers, landmarks, restorative centers and can foster place attachment for displaced people returning after a disaster.


Biophilia: Parks increase human contact with nature which has many benefits including improved test scores, reduced stress, improved self-esteem, reduced anxiety, ADHD symptom reduction, restores attention.

WE SPEND UP TO 90% OF OUR DAY INDOORS

T I M E S P E N T I N DOORS DISCONNECTS

N AT U R EU S F R O M

90%


• Improves test scores

• Restores blood flow & brain activity after mental stress

• Improves self-esteem

• Reduces anxiety

• ADHD symptom Reduction

• Restores Attention

S P E N D I N GTIME I N N A T U R A LENVIRONMENTS


In a study with children with ADD, the greener their play environment the previous week, the less severe their ADD symptoms.


The more a person visits urban open green space, the less likely they are to report a stress-related illness.


Financial Wellness Parks increase real property values and increase tax revenue

• Property

• Sales

• Tourism


Financial Wellness can attract retirees

“BY 2050, 1 IN 4 AMERICANS WILL BE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, CREATING AN AFFLUENT GROUP OF RETIREES WITH FINANCIAL BENEFITS – SOCIAL SECURIT Y, MILITARY BENEFITS, AND PENSION PL ANS.”


HUMAN HEALTH& WELLBEING

Financial Wellness can attract knowledge workers and new talentA s u r v e y o f 1 , 2 0 0 h i g h t e c h n o l o g y w o r k e r s i n 1 9 9 8 b y K P M G f o u n d t h a t q u a l i t y o f l i f e i n a c o m m u n i t y i n c r e a s e s t h e a t t r a c t i v e n e s s o f a j o b b y 3 3 p e r c e n t .

PROCESSES & SOLUTIONS

HUNTER’S POINT SOUTH PARK, NY

ARBOLERA DE VIDA/SAWMILL PARK, NM

RESILIENCE PLANNING

HUNTER’S POINT SOUTH PARK, NYN E W Y O R K C I T Y PA R K SThomas Balsley Associates, Weiss/Manfredi, ARUP

Project Goals: Social, cultural, historic, recreation

Resiliency Issues: Storm surges, durability, sustainability, cost

Special Design Responses: Industrial, self drains, native plants, limited irrigation


HUNTER’S POINT SOUTH PARK, NYN E W Y O R K C I T Y PA R K S

ARBOLERA DE VIDA/SAWMILL PARKS A W M I L L C O M M U N I T Y L A N D T RU S TDekker/Perich/Sabatini, DesignWorkshop, Bohannon-Huston

Project Goals: Social, cultural, recreational

Resiliency Issues: Crime, income inequality, flooding, social isolation

Special Design Responses: Surge pond, collaborative programming and design, rail references, xeriscape, active design


ARBOLERA DE VIDA/SAWMILL PARKS A W M I L L C O M M U N I T Y L A N D T RU S T

RESILIENCE PLANNING FOR

PARKS

Community identification of primary shocks and stresses, and indicators of a resilient community

Identify how parks/open space/recreation facilities can support resilience strategies

RESILIENCE PLANNING FOR

PARKSIdentify overlap between park/open space/recreation sustainability and resilience goalsUse of native plants; separate zones for turf/shrubs/trees; connectivity; solar lighting; water harvesting; maximize permeable areas; deliberate programming of wildland/urban interface….

i-40I-40

ALBUQUERQUE RAIL YARDS REDEVELOPMENT

ALBUQUERQUE RAIL YARDS REDEVELOPMENT

CENTR

AL AVE.

MOUNTAIN ROAD

art art

EZ

EZ

AZ

art

art

art

AZ

art

ROUTE

66

ROUTE

66

Litter receptacles Sitting area at trail intersection or under bridge

BRIDGE BLVD.

Levee Trail

Access Zone -Mountain RoadImprovements: Park, pavillion and possibly horses Parking Signage and information Possible road connection to BioPark Bridge over drain/channel Bike Boulevard between Old Town and river Boardwalk & improved trail

Access Zone -Tingley BeachImprovements: Restaurant Viewing platformv and deck Park / Playground Parking Bridge Restrooms Boardwalks Improvements to Tingley Ponds Philosopher’s trail in Bosque Trail connection along ditch behind The Beach Apartments Connect the Bosque to Kit Carson park

Access Zone -National Hispanic Cultural CenterImprovements: Children’s forest Parking-shared Signage and information Lighting Shelter and benches Prescription trail

Agrarian Zone - Rio Grande Valley State Park Lodge ( Potential Site) Upgrade road arrival to tree- lined boulevard from Hispanic Cultural Center Strengthen connection in Bosque Food crop �elds Restaurant Farm shop Parking shaded by orchard Education

Agrarian Zone Upgrade Bridge Blvd. to tree-lined boulevard Connect to future farmer’s market Restaurant Food truck plaza Farm shop Parking shaded by orchard Showcase testing ground for innovative agricultural irrigation systems

Access zone - Rail Road ParkImprovements: Connection to trail Bridge over drain Signage and information Consolidate/ formalize soft trails Restrooms

Cultural Loop Transit/ parking system

Access Zone -AquariumImprovements: Outdoor exhibit Viewing platform Bridge from Aquarium New entrance Formalized parking Lighting Restrooms Signage and information Boardwalks and Bridge monuments that re�ect the river

Access Zone -SW CentralImprovements: Trail connections Bridge monument Signage and information

Existing Bridge Art to be river related

Access Zone -NW CentralImprovements: Retail parking lot Boat ramp Trail connection Lighting Signage and information Kayak rental Farmers market Community garden Food (Cafe)

Interstate

40 RESILIENCE PLANNING FOR PARKS

Create a resilient parks action plan that addresses further community involvement, capital investment, operations and maintenance

JUST REMEMBER THIS...

Characteristics of resilient parks/open space/recreation facilities:

• Address changing conditions of social-ecological systems

• Created with community involvement

• Improve community’s physical resilience to shocks and stresses

• Contribute to community health and wellbeing

YOUTHANK

REFERENCES

Allen, Will. Urban Parks and Pathways - Supporting Healthy People, Communities and Ecosystems. LearningForSustainability.net. Accessed Nov 2015, learningfor sustainability.net/urban/parks.php

Gallaher, Joanne E. Ecotourism as a Social-Ecological System: A Case Study in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Arid Lands Resource Sciences, The University of Arizona: 2010.

Holling, C.S. Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, Vol. 4: 1973.

Hostetler, Mark, Will Allen, and Colin Meurk. Conserving Urban Biodiversity? Creating Green Infrastructure is Only the First Step. Landscape and Urban Planning, Vol. 100:4, 30 Apr 2011.

How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development. American Planning Association. Chicago, IL. Accessed Nov 2015, www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/ economicdevelopment.htm.

How Cities Use Parks for Green Infrastructure. American Planning Association. Chicago, IL. Accessed Nov 2015, www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/green insfrastructure.htm.

McPhearson, Timon. The Rise of Resilience: Linking Resilience and Sustainability in City Planning. The Nature of Cities: 8 June 2014.

Our Common Future. World Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 1987.

Urban Resilience in an Era of Climate Change: Global Input for Local Solutions. Symposium sponsored by the National Park Service, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection, University of New York and Natural Areas Conservancy, 17-18 Oct 2013.

Walker, B. and D. Salt. Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing Work. Washington: Island Press: 2006.

WELL Building Standard. Delos Living, LLC: 2012. Accessed Nov 2015, delos.com/about/well-building-standard