GROWING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN DETROIT THROUGH A GI KNOWLEDGEBASE Lesley Rivera
"We can and should be the greenest city in America. Shame on us if we don't earn that title." - Gary Brown, Director, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department 2
TNC s CITIES PROGRAM Collaborating with cities to protect and restore natural systems for the benefit of people and nature 3
4
WHY CREATE A GI KNOWLEDGEBASE? Where can I find a map of GI in Detroit? Organically, the need arose out of Erb Family Foundation s Blue-Green Infrastructure Workgroup Unanimous agreement on the need to map all existing green infrastructure projects and create a centralized space for information 5
THE PLAN Objective: Develop a GI mapping and knowledgebase website template and concept plan based on guided input from the Advisory Group. Deliverables: 1. Survey and inventory of green infrastructure projects 2. Map of GI Projects 3. Website template and concept plan 4. Publication pieces to increase awareness of GI 5. Project plan and budget for full development and functionality 6
WHO IS USING THE WEBSITE? Website Users: 1. Detroit property owners ranging from homeowners to small business owners to commercial developers interested in building green infrastructure practices and learning about the range of benefits e.g., offsetting drainage charges, improved environment, reduced surface flooding, energy saving, etc. 2. Professional sectors and practitioners interested in the ecosystem of green infrastructure in Detroit e.g., urban planners; environmental engineers, planners and designers; community development, public policy, agriculture, etc. 3. Nonprofits, political officials, individuals, and other organizations engaged in community development and/or green infrastructure work at-large e.g., city staff, research institutions, universities, DEQ, etc. 7
THE TEAM Roles for Making This Happen! Community of Database Users Community of GI Owners Advisory Group Design Team Advisory Group is responsible for steering the decisions made around specific data collections, website usability, identifying the community of GI developers and target users, and provide guiding input around the overall project direction and timeline. Design Team is responsible for the day-to-day development of the GI Project Tracking & Web Communication Knowledgebase. 8
PROJECT TIMELINE Design Team Advisory Group Meetings DWSD/City of Detroit July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April Activities/Deliverables GI Terms and Definitions Case Study Research Draft Survey Data Collection Website Template Development Mapping of GI Projects Publications Phase 2 Project Plan Phase 2 Erb Proposal Submission (April) 7 9
PROJECT TIMELINE 12 mtgs 5 people 116 hrs Design Team Meetings 6 mtgs 33 people 180 hrs 6 mtgs April 9 people 40 hrs Advisory Group DWSD/City of Detroit July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April Activities/Deliverables GI Terms and Definitions Case Study Research Draft Survey Data Collection Website Template Development Mapping of GI Projects Publications Phase 2 Project Plan Phase 2 Erb Proposal Submission (April) 7 10
CASE STUDY: 3 RIVERS RAINWAYS Tools for planning GI Project Map 14
CASE STUDY: 3 RIVERS WET WEATHER Nonprofit organization founded jointly by the Allegheny County Health Department and the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority Three tools property owner s tool planner s/engineer s tool GI Atlas Image:3riverswetweather.org/green-infrastructure 12
CASE STUDY: GI ATLAS GI Project Information Filters by practice type 13
DETROIT GI PROJECT MAP 14 9
DETROIT GI PROJECT MAP Pop-out for detailed project information. GI Terms developed by Advisory Group 15 9
GI PROJECT SURVEY 2.5 months 74 unique projects 16
PATHWAY GI Terms Mapped Projects Survey 17
PATHWAY Mapped Projects Website Template Knowledgebase Research 18
WEBSITE TEMPLATE/CONCEPT PLAN 19
WEBSITE TEMPLATE/CONCEPT PLAN 20
PUBLICATIONS To generate greater awareness of green infrastructure practices in Detroit and support coordination and advancement of green infrastructure plans and actions. 6 feature stories 12 news stories 21
PUBLICATIONS average social media reach of over 12,000 people per article average of over 1,000 page views per feature article over 600 shares on Facebook for all stories over 100 Facebook comments 22 12
WHAT S NEXT? Phase Two (timing TBD) Objective: Scale up database, build-out full website, and integrate database with City s database or other integral sources. Deliverables: 1. Full database implementation 2. On-going communications and media promotions 23
CITY COLLABORATION 24
CITY COLLABORATION To determine: 1. What is the minimum DWSD is already planning on putting on the web? 2. What does DWSD want to make available on the web? 3. What other resources are needed? 25
QUESTIONS Lesley Rivera Urban Strategies Project Manager, The Nature Conservancy Email: lesley.rivera@tnc.org Phone: (517) 316-2271 ext. 2271