Cool Ottawa Initiatives - Central Park and Old Ottawa South

Central Park Garden Club Beautification Project

 From the website:

The Central Park Garden Club began beautifying neighbourhood “Super Mailboxes” in 2011. The aim is to install and maintain low-maintenance perennial plantings around all the mailboxes in the Central Park neighbourhood at the rate of three or four a year.

Sunnyside Bio-retention Project

From the website:

The city plans to put three rain gardens in at various intersections along the stretch of the street that will not only provide a calming aspect for traffic but will also serve as a bio-retention area for excess surface runoff. A big concern with regards to the rain gardens as green stormwater infrastructure, was the question of who would maintain them. The city of Ottawa representatives said that they are working with other sectors with in the city of Ottawa to coordinate the seasonal upkeep, which would be minimal. They encouraged residents to play a role in helping maintain the rain gardens.  Plants include: Aster, Marsh Marigold, Helinium, Camas, Coneflower, Geranium, Blue Flag Iris, Switch Grass and Goldenrod

Ecology Ottawa write up link.

Other Rain Gardens in Ontario


P.S. Check out my latest "urban wild" nature blog: Wild. Here.
(2017 update)

More about SNAP - Bayview Glen (TRCA - Toronto)

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From SNAP - Bayview Glen

On September 28 the Markham’s City Council approved the proposed design concept for Glencrest Park and endorsed it for implementation in 2015-2016.

The updated Glencrest Park will include a modern playground and a shade structure near the entrance to the park at Ladyslipper Court and amenities such as a labyrinth, a meditation garden and an open play space. A proposed trail system will connect key features within the park and will provide an off-street pedestrian linkage between Laureleaf Road and Ladyslipper Court.

The re-creation of the valley feature with raingardens will transform the landscape within Glencrest Park from maintained turf to a rich mosaic of ecotones, creating a naturalized landscape and supporting the attenuation of stormwater runoff. A looped trail system of approximately 600 m surrounding the raingardens and the mediation garden will afford opportunities for walking and jogging within a naturalized landscape setting. Tree planting is proposed extensively throughout the park with the intent of expanding the tree canopy and promoting evapotranspiration.

Glencrest Park has received a $60,000 grant from the RBC Blue Water Project. This grant will support the implementation of the raingardens and tree planting and creation of a naturalized landscape that enhances the evapotranspiration and infiltration of stormwater.

Link to Map

More about SNAP - Lake Wilcox (TRCA - Toronto)

Great examples of front yard landscaping that helps with biodiversity, stormwater runoff and xeriscaping.  (Wish they had some estimates of costs - that would be great to know about!)

From SNAP - Lake Wilcox:

Two Front Yard Makeover demonstration projects were installed in July-September 2012.

These projects play an essential role in communicating the objectives of SNAP and profiling many of the key practices of residential eco-landscaping.

Regarding the new gardens - noted comment from a neighbour was ‘Environmentally friendly garden yet artistic and multi-use’.

Both watered, on average, once a week using only water from the rain barrel, no potable water was used. Neither design includes a lawn, thus both time and water were saved.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 BEFORE:

AFTER:

Photos from SNAP website.

Some details:

• Roof leader discharges to a bioswale or soak away underlain with AquaBlox units.
• Discharge of another roof leader into a rain barrel with overflow directed to a dry river bed that leads to a soakaway or rain garden.
• Discharge of a third downspout onto a permeable driveway/walkway.
• Water efficient native plantings of trees, shrubs and plants.

Link to SNAP Lake Wilcox Project Page.

What is SNAP?

SNAP Eco-Landscaping: Program and Information Guide

From their website:

The Sustainable Neighbourhood Retrofit Action Plan (SNAP) is an innovative pilot program led by Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) in collaboration with many municipal and community partners. The SNAP program aims to accelerate the implementation of environmental improvements and urban renewal at the neighbourhood scale. It takes an integrated approach to overcome urban retrofit challenges and address a broad range of objectives with locally tailored solutions. Each SNAP neighbourhood features unique initiatives to inspire residents, businesses and governments to take action. 

In partnership with local stakeholders including residents, businesses, local groups and institutions, the project seeks to develop action plans to improve the local environment on the neighbourhood scale and build resiliency against climate change by greening local infrastructure and encouraging positive behavior changes among residents. Based on existing conditions of each neighbourhood the project sets neighbourhood-level targets and identifies key actions on private and public property to address environmental objectives in the context of social and economic considerations for each neighbourhood. Each plan builds the business case for implementation by measuring individual and community benefits and cost savings.

http://sustainableneighbourhoods.ca/wp/eco-landscaping-how-to-information-and-garden-designs/

Slow Spread Sink (Sonoma Valley)

Best land management practices for storm water runoff.

The idea is to slow water runoff down - permeable surfaces work better and this can be applied not only to the ground but also roofs (that have impermeable surfaces).  Spread it around via rain barrels, french drains and other methods such as vegetated slopes and various gardens.  You don't want water to immediately be directed to pipes and culverts off your property.  Finally: let it sink!  Water can erode if there is not enough greenscaping - bare ground can be an issue just like pavement.  Use gravity, include swales and rain gardens and provide some xeriscaping on higher grounds.

This guide by Sonoma Valley on beneficial stormwater management is very comprehensive and provides lots of tips to homeowners and landowners.

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment - Part 5

DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

Ideas, policy and guidelines are all good.  We bandy around the words "sustainable", "green" and "resilient" but how do these words, these principals actually become groundtruthed and implemented?  How do you ensure that once you have interested developers, that they follow your vision and implement a development that reflects green design and construction? 

Many cities may have policy goals around this language to achieve in their Official Plans, Transportation and Greenspace Master Plans and Environmental Strategies but until these policies and values filter into the actual day-to-day operating principals and procedures of a municipality there is no way to guarantee that they will be implemented.

One method of encouraging this is to have these types of policies integrated into land development IMPLEMENTATION strategies.  These strategies will ensure that development can meet goals of 33% tree coverage, 50% green roof and walls, 75% native plant species, etc.  This can be done through Development Review Checklists (with biophilic goals outlined), bonusing and reduced development charges and LEED certification.

Waterfront Toronto development is one example of how this can be done.  The Waterfront Toronto has not only a Sustainability Framework but also Minimum Green Building Requirements which will "ensure that all new buildings along the waterfront are efficient in their use of resources and take advantage of new approaches and technologies to deliver a positive impact on the surrounding air, land and water".  For this development, "Twenty-five percent of the waterfront revitalization area is reserved for parks and open spaces." 

For Rockcliffe Lands, there needs to be as much thought put into a Framework, Guidelines and Implementation as there is for the Design Plan of this redevelopment.  Collaboration with both the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission are essential for this redevelopment to succeed.  Incentive programming should go hand in hand with guidelines so that this type of development is attractive to developers.  Specifically, what needs to be considered are:

Municipal Design Guidelines for Rockcliffe Lands:

- Green bus stops for onsite stormwater retention
- Native public gardens with both bee condos and insect hotels
- All public buildings Leeds Platinum with storm water retention onsite
- Natural playgrounds - playscapes (already in Ottawa)
- Dark Skies Lighting (already in Ottawa)
- Green Alleys (potential pedestrian/bicycle corridors)
- Native tree nursery (including Maples, Elms and "Champlain" Burr Oak)
- Bioswales as natural fencing between properties
- Good tree pit design (for trees that are bordered by concrete)
- Better standards for minimum soil volume for street trees

Private Development Guidelines for Rockcliffe Lands:

- LEEDS Platinum for all private development including:
- green paving technology and/or permeable pavement (already in Ottawa)
- green roofs and green walls for onsite stormwater retention and cleaner air
- bird safe building design - as found in Toronto (discourage glass condos)
- tree canopy coverage and landscape best practices (already in Ottawa at EQuilibrium)
- supportive by-laws for naturalized gardens

Construction Guidelines for Rockcliffe Lands:

- Current tree protection during construction (from Westside Action)

"No grade change, storage of materials or equipment permitted with this Tree Protection Zone.  Tree protection barrier must not be removed without the written authorization... Urban Forestry Services."

Root damage, trunk/bark damage, soil compaction and other activities from construction such as exhaust fumes from equipment can all compromise the health of a tree.  Even if the tree does not seem to suffer during the time of construction, there may be enough damage that the tree's ability to survive over a longer period of time may be weakened.

- Structural earth for all new street trees (from Westside Action)

HONOUR ALGONQUIN LANDS

This redevelopment includes identifying ways in which the Algonquin presence can be reflected on the Rockcliffe lands. "The history and connection of the Algonquin People with the Rockcliffe lands may be recognized through: installation of commemorative elements design of park spaces naming of streets, etc. Through the Consultation Working Group, Canada Lands Company and the AOO will jointly coordinate public unveilings of these initiatives. CLC recognizes that a commemorative opportunity on parkland overlooking the Ottawa River is of particular significance and interest to the AOO."  A site that honours and protects the native species (both flora and fauna) and allows for them to continue to flourish would be a great way to commemorate the First Nations People.

Involvement with the First Nations (through the Wabano Centre perhaps?) could also include leading the new neighborhood in efforts to connect with the land after the development.  This could include tree plantings, nut-harvests, tracking and living off the land workshops and even managing the tree nursery!

And one last thought - shouldn't the naming of the this new development reflect its aboriginal heritage?  Prior to the 17th century when this land belonged to the Algonquin people was there a name for it or could it be named after a prominent figure in either the Algonquin people's past or someone who should currently be honoured?  This is a great opportunity to ensure that this site will be forever recognized as Algonquin lands.


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If you still want to send your thoughts and comments to Canada Lands Company it is not too late. You can find their contact information on the Canada Lands Company Rockcliffe Lands website (syau@clc.ca, info@clc.ca). I did not find an email address for the Ottawa office however.


Posts on Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment:

First blog post: September 2011

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 1): November 2012

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 2) - April 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 3) - September 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 4) - October 2013

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Images from: Skyscraper Forum, Rockcliffe blog,  Honouring SMH Beaver Pond

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 3)

How can the Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment site become the FIRST BIOPHILIC REDEVELOPMENT in CANADA??  This is the second part in a series of how best to redevelop Rockcliffe Lands to create a ecologically sound development that considers the flora and fauna surrounding and within it.

BLUE LANDSCAPING

The proposed blue landscaping sounds wonderful: small rain gardens, recharging water table through naturalized low-lying areas, storm water both on and off site, etc.  These ideas need to be kept on the proposal at all costs, no matter how tough the priority setting is.  By managing water in the most natural way and working with the landscaping this will allow savings and avert potential crisis in the future.  Imagine having bioswales between houses along some of the higher elevated lands?  A natural feature like this would be a boon to housing values.  In the Lashley + Associates example this equates to just a three metre easement between the houses. 

One possibility that hasn't been proposed is the opportunity to build Ottawa's first constructed wetland for sewage.  I was on a campus in Lindsay Ontario for two years that housed its own constructed wetland and there were none of the issues that you may associate with a sewage facility including odours, insects and/or overflows.  It could be well designed like this bioretention facility in Portland or this constructed wetland in Washington D.C..  With an internationally recognized research institute (the Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment) only three hours away from Ottawa, it would be a waste to lose an opportunity like this to test urban applications of these wetlands.  And a wetland like this would help ensure that this property becomes a truly biophilic development.

INCREASE THE SIZE OF MONTFORT WOODS

In the last post I discussed some opportunities in terms of wood lots on the site (and adjacent to the site) but I would like to propose more in this post.  I've mentioned before the benefits of having a 10-hectare wood lot and that Ottawa needs to protect what they have and consider more.  There is a great opportunity here to create a larger forest that combines the Montfort Woods with some of the south-west corner of the Rockcliffe Lands.  Presently Montfort Woods is only 9 acres (3.5 hectares) which could easily be expanded into the new development to create a 10 hectare plot.  This would equate to only 5% of the Rockcliffe Lands - perhaps it could be designed to accommodate this - a bit denser housing and more green space left intact?

Yes these N.C.C. woods presently are not that ecologically sound with periwinkle invading in many corners but these woods are worth saving.  The Montfort Woods was declared an environmentally sensitive area in 2004, which ensures that this property will not be developed.  The Rockcliffe Lands redevelopment project has already proposed some buffering around this woods so that there isn't an abrubpt change from woods to backyard lawns.  This type of transition zone, such as a shrub border, would help safeguard its ecological integrity.  Once the development has been built and there are local citizens who can get involved, the neighborhood could consider public education regarding these non-native forest flora invaders and "No Dumping Garden Waste" signs along the border of the woods.  Rockcliffe Lands could even partner with the N.C.C. to run a program like Edmonton's Master Naturalists to help protect the local  wood lots and the surrounding corridors.

NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDSCAPING

Another great consideration that has been proposed is keeping as much of the natural elevation as possible.  This land sits above the Ottawa River with some great viewsheds and some rock outcroppings and it is a wonderful idea to recognize the landscape and terrain as a important feature to retain.  The best way to recognize and work with these natural features is to landscape them or wildscape them as naturally as possible using native plants.  Xeriscaping (designing a garden with plants that are drought-tolerant) would be an ideal way of having municipal landscaping that was low-maintenance.  Some areas could be naturalized and left unmowed to provide natural habitat for various fauna including bees and birds.  Some hedge borders in less accessible areas and around the north and western edges of the redevelopment would also provide habitat and/or food (such as berries) and wildlife corridors that would link various green spaces.

All in all, what has already been proposed is a great start and those behind the plan have a keen eye for the natural assets that the Rockcliffe Lands have to offer.  Let's hope that they continue to see the benefits and that the community backs them up!


If you still want to send your thoughts and comments to Canada Lands Company it is not too late. You can find their contact information on the Canada Lands Company Rockcliffe Lands website (syau@clc.ca, info@clc.ca). I did not find an email address for the Ottawa office however.


NEXT UP: BIRDS AND BEES AND OTHER BENEFICIAL NEIGHBOURS! 
Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 4) - October 2013

All details about this Redevelopment Project can be found here: http://www.clcrockcliffe.ca/

Posts on Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment:

First blog post: September 2011

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 1): November 2012

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 2): April 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 4): October 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 5): November 2013

Milwaukee Avenue Green Development Corridor (Chicago)

Great greening the city project in the states (with a focus on reducing area flooding) - they are even talking bioswales! 

From the website:

In 2012, residents and business owners along Milwaukee Avenue between Kimball and California will be eligible to apply for funding to support property improvements that reduce neighborhood flooding, protect Chicago’s waterways, and make Milwaukee Avenue one of the most environmentally friendly blocks in Chicago. The Illinois Environment Protection Agency has awarded a $200,000 Green Infrastructure Grant to help finance green, water-saving projects along the entire corridor, such as green roofs, permeable pavers, rain barrels, and rain gardens. The Milwaukee Avenue Green Development Corridor is a joint project led by the City of Chicago and Ald. Rey Colón (35th Ward), funded by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and supported by Metropolitan Planning Council and Chicago Community Loan Fund.

Native Plants Crossroad

created by Nature.ca (Canadian Museum of Nature)

Great Canadian online resource referencing Fletcher Wildlife Gardens, Old Field Habitat Garden, Montreal Botanical Garden, Toronto Botanical Gardens and organizations like Naturescape (BC), CMHC, Environment Canada, Evergreen, etc.

Resources (online brochures, websites) for:

- Balcony Gardening
- Rooftop Gardening
- Butterfly Gardening
- School-Ground Greening
- Ecological Restoration
- Shoreline Rehabilitation
- Guerrilla Gardening
- Stewardship
- Native Plant Gardening
- Wildlife Gardening
- Naturalized Gardening
- Xeriscaping
- Organic Gardening

Don't overlook their list of provincial, national and international organizations that are concerned with native plants!