Parks and Trails as a Catalyst for Revitalization

This Stuff Works

I’ve mentioned before that the Atlanta Beltline is one of my favorite projects in the country.  My connection to Atlanta spans a couple of phases in my life and I’ve been trying to keep up with the progress of the Beltline and also stay attuned to the challenges they face as they move the project forward.  Recent articles and videos have debated certain merits of the project (some are already complaining it is too crowded) and comparisons are being made to the economic development associated with the 1996 Olympics.  I was there during the Olympics (very fun times by the way) and saw first hand some of the development that occurred in and around Atlanta.  Some of that development was simply window dressing, hiding the undesirable underbelly of Atlanta from the prying eyes of the international community.  Some of the development was more comprehensive and community-based in nature and has had long-lasting positive effects.  Due to its sprawling nature and the lack of inhibiting geography, Atlanta has so many pockets of communities spread throughout the City (I’m talking ITP/inside the perimeter).  What intrigues me the most about the Beltline is the vision to connect many of these communities in ways that allow you to travel in a manner that does not involve a car.  As someone who spent 2 – 5+ hours a day in my car while working in and around Atlanta, I’ve come to appreciate the improved quality of life one experiences when transportation options are greater and commute times are less (Charleston, stop complaining about your “traffic problems”).

The way the Beltline utilizes systems of parks and trails to connect communities is not a new concept but one that if done right can do more than simply improve transportation.  It encourages investment and furthers economic development.  It creates healthier communities and individuals.  This rails to trails movement is strong throughout the country and now my very own Charleston has a great opportunity to make its own statement and along the way, add value to an area that is primed for revitalization.  I attended an Urban Land Institute meeting this morning and listened to Kate Nevin of Enough Pie and Tom Bradford of Charleston Moves introduce their ideas around the concept of a “LowLine” in the upper peninsula part of the City of Charleston.  I’m assuming the name pays homage to New York’s HighLine and maybe Atlanta’s Beltline but regardless the idea of a lowline in the Lowcountry is gaining momentum.  The connection that almost 1.5 miles of unused railroad tracks totaling close to 55 acres has to revitalizing an underutilized and geographic important area of the city is becoming more and more evident.  I look forward to hearing the progress of the LowLine concept play out and will pay close attention to the synergies created for revitalizing that part of town.  It is evident to me that parks and trails can transform  our communities and become not only a catalyst for revitalization but also a valued asset for many years to come.

My Beltline Visit Last Week

Map of Eastside Trail

I was in Atlanta last week for the Southeast Energy Alliance Conference (SEEA) and I had an opportunity one cold and rainy morning to explore a section of the Beltine that runs approximately from Piedmont Park to the Inman Park area.  It was great seeing the progress of the project.  The section I ran/ jogged/walked/splashed through included the Ponce City Market project (the largest adaptive reuse project in Atlanta’s history) by Jamestown who is also developing Mixson in my own backyard of North Charleston (The Sustainability Institute has an office there) and we enjoy the partnering our organizations have collaborated on thus far…but I digress…the path I took also winded through Piedmont Park, the Historic Fourth Ward Park, and a yet to be finished section of the Beltline.  Below are pictures I took along the way.

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The Classic City

In 2011, I attended an Alumni Leadership Conference at the University of Georgia in Athens.  (Go Dawgs)  The city ranks high on desirable places to live and near the top of my favorite cities.  The university campus has undergone a lot of change with a lot of upgrades since I completed my undergraduate studies there in 2003.  The infrastructure and layout of the University has expanded and been updated.  There actually is an Office of Sustainability at UGA now and while we were in town, we were given a presentation and tour of some of the newer buildings and checked out upgrades to some of the existing ones.  The students there today are spoiled.  The dorms, dining halls, student centers and various other places around campus are so much nicer today than when I was in school.  Importance has been placed on energy efficiency, walkability, transportation and a myriad of other factors that make the campus and therefore the city a great place to study sustainability in the South.  UGA set goals in the areas of ecosytems, water, energy, and the built environment.  They have articulated a vision and you can tell they are making good progress on their goals.  Below are some of the pics.  Enjoy!

Historic Fourth Ward Park

I visited the Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta in 2011.  It is located behind the Ponce City Market redevelopment and is a part of the Atlanta Beltline, one of my favorite projects in the country of which I’ve been following the progress of ever since I lived in Atlanta and the idea first started to take root.  The Fourth Ward Park has so many sustainable features incorporated into the design but the hopes of helping to spur revitalization in the area is its most crucial function.  Providing an area for residents to gather and play and have a place they can be proud of is critical to the larger redevelopment efforts in the area.  I was impressed and pleased to see the progress on this visit.  More detailed info can be found here.  Enjoy the pics!

Trip to Portland Oregon

“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (United Nations, Brundtland Commission)

It’s a long way from home but in October 2012, I spent 5 days in Portland Oregon immersing myself in city sustainability initiatives. I was primarily in town for the EcoDistricts Summit. The Summit was put together by Portland Sustainability Institute, the City of Portland, and Portland State University. I also attended a conference on the Next Generation of Energy Efficiency put on by the University of Oregon and Citizens Utility Board of Oregon. Granted, the area is light years ahead of South Carolina in actual implementation of sustainability initiatives. The culture and understanding of the need for sustainability is evident. You don’t have to convince people (to the extent you have to in south Carolina) that sustainability focus is critical for our future. Portland is internationally recognized for their leadership in sustainability and it was a great experience learning about their accomplishments and where the future of sustainable development is headed. While there, I received training on EcoDistricts. An EcoDistrict is a neighborhood or district with a broad commitment to accelerate neighborhood-scale sustainability. EcoDistricts commit to achieving ambitious sustainability performance goals, guiding district investments and community action, and tracking the results over time. I’ll blog more about that concept at a later time but it’s very compelling and I feel there is great potential in the Charleston area to utilize the EcoDistrict process for community development. Below are some pictures from my trip. Most of them were taken while conducting a sustainability walking tour at Portland State University. Enjoy!

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