Plan for More Natural Green Capital

Flood recovery planning and activities have presented an infinite array of challenges and extraordinary opportunities.

The City of Cedar Rapids has actively engaged citizens in many input sessions, coordinating complex and ambitious rebuilding plans: a review of building and zoning codes and storm water management practices; the Neighborhood Planning Process’s “Plan for a Sustainable Future”; an Energy Management Plan; an EPA Sustainability Audit; a Greenway, Parks and Recreation Plan; and a Buildings and Facilities Master Plan.

We’ve made great progress and every positive step forward should be applauded.

It is good to see the concept of “sustainable” in these initiatives, but what does that mean to city planners and decision-makers? As the informational boards from open houses held by the city tell us, the elements of sustainability address a combination of environmental, economic and social benefits. The best decisions are those that address all of these, contributing to our overall quality of life — referred to as the Triple Bottom Line.

While we applaud the number of initiatives under way to rebuild and become best-practice models of sustainability, we are losing sight of a few very simple, time-tested principles that include natural areas, more trees, prairies and wetlands.

The Parks and Recreation options presented at the recent input session seemed to focus more on operational efficiencies rather than quality of life — despite the continuous feedback from neighborhoods that more green space and tree-lined streets are wanted. How can we have viable neighborhoods and quality of life if we focus our parks in one area? How can we benefit from the bioengineering and other benefits provided by natural areas if they are concentrated in one corridor along the river?

Parks with natural areas need to be an integral part of every neighborhood. We need to set a goal to have parks and play areas within walking distance of all residential areas. We need goals and budgets to back up the planning, maintenance and reinvestment in natural capital, because, in the long run, this investment pays off, and we have the data to prove it.

As part of Our Woodland Legacy, a Trees Forever and Holloway Family Environmental Trust partnership, data has been collected and compiled with Coe College to create a “living green score card.” We’ve learned that Cedar Rapids has more 60 percent impermeable surface (including mowed grass). This means we need fewer paved and mowed surfaces and more parks, forests, prairies and wetlands. Here’s what our natural living green capital does for all of us, on both public and private lands:

Annually, 100 mature trees catch 77,000 gallons of rainwater.

Cedar Rapids street trees provide $1.8 million annually in storm water reduction and $1.5 million in energy savings.

Trees in Cedar Rapids are estimated to store carbon valued at $8.88 million.

Wetlands and rain gardens infiltrate runoff slowly, filtering over 90 percent of sediment and chemicals before water reaches a stream or river.

Trees increase property values by 10 to 15 percent and encourage more shoppers in business districts.

Let’s make greener streets, neighborhoods, trails and parks a priority in planning and rebuilding, going beyond a sole reliance on human engineering. In Portland, Ore., and other leading-edge cities, specific goals have been set to reduce impermeable surface by planting more trees, installing rain gardens and wetlands, and restoring natural areas.

Nature can work for us and often at far less cost. Let’s plan for and invest in our children’s future — as we move through not just recovery decisions, but leading-edge decisions.

Shannon Ramsay is president/CEO of Trees Forever, a non-profit organization headquartered in Marion that promotes protecting and improving the environment through the planting and care of trees, prairie and other natural areas.