Migdalia Colon | SUEN 6110!
The East Boston Urban Forest Initiative aims to increase canopy cover in East Boston as a pilot region as part of an overall goal to increase Boston’s tree canopy cover to 40%. The initiative will incorporate dynamic and! innovative green infrastructure as part of an implementation strategy to increase canopy cover. The proposal is for 5,000 trees to be planted in five years. The initiative strategies and best management practices used in this pilot region can help inform ways to better increase and manage Boston’s overall urban forest. !
Mission!
• • • • •
Water pollution! Air Pollution! Climate Change! Energy & Conservation ! Stewardship!
Issues & Challenges:
• East Boston Master Plan • Municipal Harbor Plan • Boston Parks Dept plants about 1,000 new street tress each year • Open Space Plan • Grow Boston Greener • Greenovate Boston
ExisFng IniFaFves
• • • • • • • •
MiFgate storm water runoff Improve water and air quality Create a healthier ecosystem Decrease urban heat island Decrease energy consumpFon Create livable urban environment Encourage community stewardship Urban Forest educaFon Principles!
• Helps guide decisions making to create future urban forest • Increase Canopy Cover • Improve RelaFonship of Nature and Built Environment • OrganizaFons CollaboraFon • Inform and Consult Community
Strategies!
• • • • • • • •
Tree Inventory Benefit Analysis Baseline of ExisFng CondiFons and Impacts Green Governance CommiTee ImplementaFon Master Plan Development of Stewardship Programs Manage Urban Forest Progress and Impacts Best Management PracFces
Million Trees Initiative: NYC, NY!
Million Trees Initiative: NYC, NY!
Urban Forest (Boston Area)! Outside of Boston (Suburban Area)! Highest Tree Canopy Density (Forested Areas)!
Tree Canopy Gradient Macro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Tree Canopy Gradient Micro!
Carbon Dioxide Benefits! • Capture and Store CO2! • Slow Down Climate Change! • Releases Oxygen!
Energy Benefits! • Lower Energy Costs! • Provides Shade! • Lowers Temperature!
• • • • • •
Air Quality Benefits! • Remove Pollutants! • Reduce Emissions and Green House Gases! • Lowers Temperature!
Storm Water Benefits! • Capture rain! • Replenish local groundwater! • Reduces storm water! • Releases Oxygen! • Cools Air!
Noise Abatement! Increase Psychological Well Being! Improve Aesthetics! Increased Property Values! Provide Wildlife Habitat! Improve health and wellbeing!
!
Tree Ecological Benefits!
Street Tree! ! Residential Tree! ! Park Tree!
Possible Planting Area (Street)!
Possible Planting Area (Street)! Possible Planting Area (Residential)!
Industrial Zone! Commercial Zone! Residential Zone!
Possible Planting Areas! Park Land!
Urban Forest (Boston Area)! ! Outside of Boston (Suburban Area)! ! Highest Tree Canopy Density (Forested Areas)!
Urban Forest IniFaFve ImplementaFon
Urban Forest (Boston Area)! ! Outside of Boston (Suburban Area)! ! Highest Tree Canopy Density (Forested Areas)!
Urban Forest IniFaFve ImplementaFon
Urban Forest (Boston Area)! ! Outside of Boston (Suburban Area)! ! Highest Tree Canopy Density (Forested Areas)!
Dynamic Prototype!
Disconnected Public Spaces!
Fragmented Public Space!
Fragmented Public Space!
Slack Buffer Space!
Slack Buffer Space!
Opportunities!
Opportunities!
! • Different Best management practices! • Tree initiative and Green Infrastructure! • Community engagement! • Community involvement in projects! • Collaboration with other nonprofits or existing projects! • (ie: Boston Complete Streets)! • Ecological systems! • Storm Water Management: ! • capture, slow, cleanse, and infiltrate street runoff. ! • If overflow occurs, goes to next system! • Analysis of Urban Forest! • Looking at Tree Species Specifics! • Looking at all benefits:! • Ecological, Economic, Social! ! Precedent Study Take Backs!
Green Street Project: Portland, OR !
Green Street Project: Portland, OR !
Green Streets: NYC, NY!
Parklet Movement: San Francisco, CA!
Parklet Movement: San Francisco, CA!
Public Space Map!
Public Space Map!
25” Amur Maple ! PERCIPITATION!
C02!
48 LBS./YR.!
PM 10!
10 LBS./YR.!
O4!
140 KILOWATT/HR!
H2O!
2,847 GAL/YR.! 6” STONE BUFFER!
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION! TREE GUARD!
OVERFLOW!
GUTTER STORMRUNOFF!
CATCH BASIN!
2” WELL-DRAINING SOIL! 2” STONE BED! ! ROOT BARRIER! ! EXISTING SUBSURFACE!
1 tree absorbs 48 lbs./yr --> 4 lbs./mo. --> .13 lbs./day! ! 1 tree absorbs 100 - 500 gal/yr. of storm water!
INFILLTRATION!
Preliminary Prototype – Green Infrastructure!
General Street Tree Prototype!
Industrial Area Prototype!
Communal Node Prototype!
Residential Area Prototype!
Prototype Dynamic!
Prototype Deployment Sketches!
10’!
18’’! Planter!
Inlet!
Catch Basin System!
Structured Bench! Drainage Channel!
Permeable Pavers!
3’!
Steel Frame!
8’!
5’!
5’!
Green Infrastructure and Trench!
PV Pipe! Main Sewage Channel!
Inlet! Root Barrier!
Trench and Catch Basin Connection!
Catch Basin!
Sewer Channel!
Green Infrastructure Sections!