P U G E T C R E E K ’ S R O L E A S A G R E E N S PAC E

THE IMPORTANCE OF “GREEN SPACE”

By: Mason Chock

160 Million People

3.8 Million People

4,000 People a Day

THINGS OVERLOOKED

• Neighboring natural ecosystems are still largely intact

• Actions of producers and consumers in the area directly affect the livelihood of natural surroundings

• Underestimating of the valuableness of green space

• An area in an urban environment dedicated to nature• Includes a wide variety of areas including…

Recreational Parks (ex: New York City’s Central Park)

Urban Wetland (ex: Xixi National Wetland Park)

Urban Forest Canopy (ex: Lisbon’s Monsanto Forest Park)

You get the idea

WHAT IS A “GREEN SPACE”?

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Conflict between efficient allocation of resources and the protection of natural resources

• Alienation of the everyday environments we live in today

HISTORY OF TACOMA

• Originally high forest canopy environment• First explored by Captain George Vancouver• European settlement established by Nicholas De

Lin• Highly industrialized area in the 19th and early

20th centuryLumber IndustryTransportationFlour millsSalmon Canneries

ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE IN TACOMA

• Large loss in the populations of species found in the Puget Sound due to….Climate ChangeToxic ContaminationEutrophicationHabitat Alteration

• Urbanization and Industrialization

PUGET CREEK WATERSHED & OTHER LOCAL GREEN SPACES

DISADVANTAGES OF THE CREEK(AND “GREEN SPACES IN GENERAL)

• Costs of maintenance• Possible increase of traffic congestion • Forces urbanization to extend in other areas• Causes unneeded interaction with wildlife• Harbor vermin, weeds, and criminals if not

maintained properly

BENEFITS OF THE CREEK(AND “GREEN SPACES” IN GENERAL)

Neighborhood Stability• Building social

cohesion to address local concern

• Child education• Adult work training

Public Health• Opportunity for

physical exercise• Asthma mitigation• Psychological well-

being

Environmental Remedial• Storm runoff

reduction• Pollution absorption • Wildlife protection• Street noise buffering

 Relation between amount of green space (in a 3 km radius) and self perceived health (percentage stating their health is less than good) based on the logistic multilevel model of

table 1, step 3b (controlling for urbanity, sociodemographic, and socioeconomic characteristics).

Maas J et al. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:587-592

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PUGET CREEK WATERSHED TODAY?

• Puget Creek Watershed Alliance• Puget Creek Restoration Society

Boardwalk ProjectSalmon Habitat and Population RestorationMonitoring ProjectsEelgrass ProjectsTerrestrial Restoration WorkEducation and Outreach

• City of Tacoma Public Works

THEN

NOW

THEN NOW

THEN

NOW

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

• Volunteer some of your time at the creek

• Advocate the importance of sustainability

• Participate in sustainable practices

• Yeah