Photo Credit: GatewayDesignStudio
Parks and recreation professionals have the opportunity to be at the forefront of implementing green infrastructure within parkland and recreational complexes. While this infrastructure has been increasingly utilized over the past 10 years, green applications tend to be focused on public works and specialized private development projects, such as LEED. Parks have the opportunity to position themselves as an important resource for municipalities, helping to lead the way in the continuously growing field of water-resource mitigation and conservation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines green infrastructure as “an array of products, technologies and practices that use natural systems—or engineered systems that mimic natural processes—to enhance overall environmental quality and provide utility services.”
This article will focus on some of the strategies that can most effectively be applied to parks.