Putting it All Together

This section takes what we’ve learned about urban greening so far and condenses it into easily digestible bullet points. Together, these components can make a resilient city.

economy

These three tactics will help build a bustling economy in your resilient city:

  • Revive Main St, or your city’s downtown area, through city investments that make it a place for people to linger while interacting with friends and neighbors.

  • Invest municipal funds in infill development prioritizing BIPOC owned businesses.

  • Create a diverse portfolio of industries centered around sustainable development.

infrastructure

  • Install roundabouts where appropriate to reduce car crash fatalities and keep traffic flowing by removing the frequency of coming to a full stop or idling while waiting for a light.

  • Reduce overall CO2 emissions with safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable public transit systems. This will make a city more equitable and reduce car dependency.

  • Build safe and well connected bicycle networks to reduce CO2 emissions, obesity, and the need to be car dependent.

  • Install and widen sidewalks to increase mobility especially among residents with disabilities.

Energy

  • Invest and create jobs in renewable energies like wind and solar.

  • Invest and install micro-grids with battery (energy storage) capacity.

  • Replace inefficient appliances and light bulbs with ones that are more efficient.

  • Weatherize your home and/or your workplace.

Environment

  • Add street trees to cool the city and naturally filter out harmful air pollutants while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

  • Add bioswales to filter pollutants out of rainwater run-off before it reaches our water ways and oceans.

  • Convert lawns to “produce or reduce.”

    • Produce food for yourself or pollinators.

    • Reduce water consumption.

  • Install ​rain gardens which aide in capturing rain water, returning it to the ground and reducing harmful, toxic run-off.

Community

  • Create community gardens to not only provide a local fresh food source, but also add community charm by filling in vacant lots.

  • Install small scale rain capture water systems that can be used for gardens.

  • Use intentional design and CPTED measures to add greenery and prevent neighborhood crime.