Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia

Andrew Dobshinsky, AICP Associate Planner / Urban Designer, WRT

Philadelphia

134 square miles 1.55 million people

133 square miles 444,000 people

Atlanta

Center City

University City

Downtown

Midtown

Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia Making the Case for Green Infrastructure Green City, Clean Waters Meeting Federal and State Water Quality Mandates Greenworks Philadelphia Defining a Sustainability Blueprint

Green 2015 Achieving 500 Acres of New Green Space

Philadelphia 2035 Setting a Long-Range Vision

Green Streets Design Manual Putting Streets to Work

Philadelphia Trail Master Plan Prioritizing Nonmotorized Corridors

Defining Green Infrastructure

The entirety of the city’s open space network

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Shorthand for green stormwater infrastructure

Green City, Clean Waters

GreenPlan Philadelphia

• The City’s comprehensive plan for sustainable open space

• Process started: 2006

• Plan completed: 2008

• Horizon year: 2028

Network of Benefits

ENVIRONMENT QUALITY OF LIFE

Clean Air

Healthy Watersheds

Robust Habitat

Hospitable Climate

Fresh, Local Produce

Convenient Recreation Access

Healthy Residents

Strong, Safe Neighborhoods

ECONOMY

Efficient Energy Use

Valuable Properties

Productive Land Use

Competitive Economy

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Physical Framework

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Physical Framework

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Physical Framework

ELEMENTS OF GREEN PLACES GREEN PLACES

Trees

Stormwater Management Tools

Meadows

Trails and Bikeways

Wetlands

Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens

High Performance Surfaces

Renewable Energy

Parks and Recreation Spaces

Green Schoolyards

Vacant Land Opportunities

Waterfronts

Green Streets

Green Development

Plazas and Auxiliary Spaces

Rail and Utility Corridor Enhancements

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Benefits Matrix

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Benefits Matrix

Measurability

ATLA

NTA

27.0

40.0

TARGET

GreenPlan Philadelphia

South Philadelphia

West Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Measurability

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Measurability Cost/Benefit Analysis Trees

South Philadelphia 30% canopy (+61,439 trees) ANNUAL COSTS

AIR QUALITY + $ 482,294 WATERSHED HEALTH + $ 1,560,543 HOSPITABLE CLIMATE + $ 6,144 EFFICIENT ENERGY USE + $ 504,289

ANNUAL BENEFITS

NET ANNUAL BENEFIT

CAPITAL/O&M - $ 1,590,656

+$ 1,060,302 ONE-TIME BENEFIT

+$ 12,297,510

HOSPITABLE CLIMATE + $ 97,688 EFFICIENT ENERGY USE + $ 12,199,822

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Measurability

Other targets include:

• Greening an additional 100 schoolyards

• Creating 1,400 miles of green streets

• Having a trail within a half mile of all residents

Additional targets and recommendations address funding, management, operations, maintenance, education, and outreach.

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

GreenPlan Philadelphia

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Project Selection Criteria

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Project Selection Criteria

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Place-Based Objectives

Under 30% tree cover

Impervious 500-year floodplain

High environmental potential

Air Toxin Risk 65 per million+

Yellow, orange, or red market area

At least 40 people per acre

At least 5 degrees of disadvantage

Underserved by parks

More than a half mile from a trail

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Place-Based Objectives

GreenPlan Philadelphia

Green City, Clean Waters

• The City’s Long-Term Control Plan for Combined Sewer Overflow Control, developed to meet regulatory requirements

• $2.4 billion plan, with $1.7 billion in green stormwater infrastructure

• Process started: 2006

• Plan completed: 2009

• Horizon year: 2035

adelphia Water Department Archives

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Green City, Clean Waters

Alternatives Evaluated

Ec. Social Environmental

Affordable

Scalable

Meets CSO Policy Goals

Meets Watershed Goals

Creates Jobs

Enhances Recreation

Improves Quality of

Reduces Heat Effects

Restores Ecosystems

Improves Air Quality

Saves Energy

Public Support

Benefits Accrual

Complete Sewer Separation

At completion

Large-Scale Storage

At completion

Green Stormwater Infrastructure with Targeted Traditional

Immediate incremental

Green City, Clean Waters

Alternatives Evaluated

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Green City, Clean Waters

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Stormwater Planter

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Stormwater Tree Trench

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphi

Corner Bumpout

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

Green Gutter

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

What does it look like?

Stormwater Wetland Community Garden Green Schoolyard

Green Roof Pervious Pavement Green Street

Green City, Clean Waters

WRT for the City of Philadelphia

WRT for the City of Philadelphia