breaking ground toolkit creating a greener, healthier city A Citizen's Guide to Urban Greening Produced for the Breaking Ground Conference May 2002, Calgary Alberta Acknowledgements As Calgary becomes a larger, economically vigorous urban Compiled and Designed by Zoë Langevin, centre, there is also more potential for a natural, greener and in consultation with The Calgary Foundation a healthier environment. The means exist to create a city that and the City of Calgary Parks. c enhances the well-being of individuals and communities. This k toolkit is a result of the Breaking Ground Conference held from n o May 2 - 4th, 2002 in Calgary, Alberta. The Breaking Ground Parks Foundation, Calgary has partnered with the following organizations to bring you the w Conference, a regional conference, is an Evergreen partnership l initiative and is hosted by Parks Foundation, Calgary. It is one Breaking Ground Conference: e series of conferences to be delivered across Canada between d 2000 and 2002. This series is part of the Evergreen Canada g e Initiative (ECI), a partnership program to transform thousands m of degraded urban areas across Canada into dynamic natural e spaces that bring communities and nature together. The n resources in this toolkit are intended to assist individuals, t community members, planners and designers in realizing s the goal of a greener and more sustainable city. Special thanks must be given to the many organizations who gave permission to reprint their material and to the individuals that took time out of their busy day to be interviewed. The toolkit has been made possible through the generous support of: 1 Table of Contents Acknowledgements 1 c o Introduction 3 n t Evergreen 4 e n In your backyard: Low maintenance landscaping 5 t Wildlife habitat in your yard 6 s In your neighbourhood: Community gardens 8 Preserving green spaces 10 Schoolyard naturalization 12 Tree planting 14 Reviewing development permits 16 In your city: The planning process 17 Ecological infrastructure 18 Smart growth 20 Pesticide use 21 Calgary case studies: Robert McClure Garden 8 Griffith Woods 10 Milton Williams Middle School 12 Inner City Tree Committee 14 Additional Information: Community action 22 Photo City of Calgary Parks Community organizations 23 Funding sources 26 Maps: Community Recreation 28 Coordinators Sources: Resource list 29 Conference Sponsors: 31 2 Introduction The information in this toolkit has been compiled from a number of books, brochures, websites and reports. Please see page 29 for a complete list of credits. i n t ToolKit Organization r The handbook is organized into four sections: o d 1. In your backyard: Possible projects to undertake on your property u Topics: Low maintenance landscaping c Wildlife habitat in your yard t i o 2. In your neighbourhood: Ideas and information for community initiatives n Topics: Community gardens Preserving green spaces Schoolyard naturalization Photo City of Calgary Parks Tree planting Reviewing development permits Please USE this toolkit, photocopy it, share it! Use the toolkit to plan your garden, shape your 3. In your city: Projects and information for community groups community or rethink municipal policies! or people working in planning and development: Topics: Ecological infrastructure The topics are explained by: Pesticide use 1. Urban greening principles: an explanation of the topics Smart growth and their key principles of urban greening. The planning process 2. Getting started: an outline of the initial steps for undertaking the respective projects. The steps are designed 4. Additional Information: More information to assist with urban greening pursuits for either individuals or groups, depending on the project. Topics: Ecological playground ideas 3. Resources: Books, booklets, funding information or websites Community Action (writing letters to politicians) with Calgary related information. 4. Support: Organizations or individuals that can assist with urban greening projects in Calgary. 5. Examples: When possible, examples in and around Calgary are listed. 3 Evergreen Welcome to the Calgary Breaking Ground regional conference! By As a community member, planner, decision-maker or concerned participating in this conference you are helping lay the groundwork citizen, the following resources will prove useful, and are e to transform urban landscapes into rich, engaging naturalized examples of what you can find in the Tool Shed: v areas. Evergreen is committed to greening the urban landscapes e and will provide on-going support to realize sustainable community Naturalization Policy Guidelines For Canadian Municipalities (2001): r This resource provides practical guidelines to help municipalities g projects. This support includes staff expertise and organization r experience, our resources and Web site. promote naturalization through their official plans, policies and e operating procedures. 57 pages, $15. e Evergreen is a national non-profit environmental organization with n a mandate to bring nature to our cities through naturalization Ground Work: Investigating the Need For Nature in the City (2000): projects. We motivate people to create and sustain healthy, natural This research report examines the environmental, social and outdoor spaces and give them the practical tools to be successful economic benefits of restoring healthy natural landscapes in through our three core programs: the urban environment. 25 pages, $15. Learning Grounds transforms concrete school grounds into natural No Plot is Too Small: A Community's Guide to Restoring Public "outdoor classrooms" with students, teachers and neighbours. Lands (2000): Learn how to plan a successful and sustainable local naturalization initiative with this unique step-by-step Common Grounds works with communities to create vibrant natural resource that will guide you through the planning process. areas in the public spaces they share. 48 pages, $15. Home Grounds supports individuals creating natural environments at To order these resources or for the latest information on home - in gardens and on rooftops and balconies. Evergreen's other Tool Shed resources, check out our web site at www.evergreen.ca or contact Evergreen in Vancouver The Evergreen Tool Shed is an integrated collection of resources (604)689-0766, Toronto (416)596-1495 or toll free in Canada designed to inspire, educate and guide you through all the stages 1-888-426-3138. of a school, community or home naturalization project. It includes guidebooks, instructional and inspirational videos, fact sheets, We'd like to congratulate the conference organizers on all of case studies, newsletters, research reports and online project registry. their hard work and feel confident that , as participants, you will walk away inspired to bring nature to your city, create Evergreen's sponsors are: vibrant neighbourhoods and a sustainable society for all. Sincerely, Evergreen 4 Low Maintenance Landscaping Urban Greening Principles Examples Low maintenance landscaping, which includes xeriscaping and naturalization, Many of the school naturalization projects use low maintenance i provides an opportunity for environmental stewardship on your property. principles for their landscaping. Milton Williams School n (92 Malibou Rd SW) and Olympic Heights School (875 y Design a garden that requires less maintenance, less water, no chemicals Strathcona Dr SW) demonstrate different types of native and features native Alberta plants. o landscaping. u r Resources and Support Getting Started Go for Green, a national not for profit, website b a http://www.goforgreen.ca/gardening/index.html has fact c The following low maintenance principles, from Creating the Prairie Xeriscape, sheets on ecological lawn maintenance, creating a wildflower k outline how to turn your yard into a low maintenance haven: meadow, using native plants and more. y a 1. Design for water conservation. The Calgary Horticultural Society's The Calgary Gardener: r d Group plants according to their similar water needs, consider the grade of the Essential Guide to Gardening in Alberta's Chinook Country. the site, and percolation. Incorporate a rainwater catchment container into While this book does not speak specifically about xeriscaping, your yard to hold rainwater and rooftop runoff. it is the bible for Calgary gardeners! The Calgary Horticultural Society also holds workshops on topics such as composting 2. Use organic mulching to conserve water, reduce weeding and improve your soil. and wildflower gardens. Check their website Improve your soil by adding organic mulches such as compost, peat moss, http://www.calhort.org or call the Society (403) 243-5537 and manures to condition your soil, add nutrients and increase your soil's for more information. ability to hold nutrients and water. University of Calgary Faculty of Continuing Education 3. Reduce your lawn, therefore reducing water, chemical use and mowing time. This faculty regularly runs courses on low maintenance Lawns are high maintenance, have high water and pesticide needs. Evaluate gardening. Call the Faculty for course information and how much lawn you need. Keep enough space for children and xeriscape scheduling at (403) 220- 2866 or check their website at remaining areas. http://www.cted.ucalgary.ca 4. Choose appropriate plants. Creating the Prairie Xeriscape by Sara Williams Choose drought tolerant plants and place them in the appropriate growing places. Published by the University of Saskatchewan (1997). Available for loan at the Calgary Public Library,