Over a decade ago, Vancouver saw three residential alleyways transformed into “country lanes” – grassy, idyllic laneways hidden in different parts of the city.
The project served multiple purposes. The grassy, permeable surfaces absorb rainwater, reducing the amount of runoff flowing into the city’s sewer system. And the country lanes are aesthetically pleasing – so much so, in fact, that they increased property values of the surrounding homes.
With over 240 public parks, including the celebrated Stanley Park and the sprawling Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver is known as one of the world’s greenest cities.
But the country lanes, and other projects like it, show that greening a city isn’t just about setting aside large swaths of untouched land. Small-scale projects can also improve the sustainability and livability of a city.
Urban green spaces are linked to a host of environmental and health benefits. They can reduce the urban heat island effect, filter air, and purify stormwater runoff that could otherwise overwhelm sewer systems. They’re also associated with reduced stress levels, lower crime rates, and even better pregnancy outcomes.
One recent study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, finds that the percentage of a city covered by public parks is among the strongest predictors of wellbeing.
According to its Greenest City Action Plan, Vancouver has set a goal of providing all residents with access to nature within a five-minute walking distance of their homes. Achieving that will mean focusing to a certain extent on a network of small green spaces within the city.
A 2014 report by UBC Greenest City Scholar Lindsey Fryett gives some suggestions as to how that might be done. It shows that broad boulevards can act as greenways connecting larger green spaces.
These greenways can create bird and pollinator habitat, absorb stormwater runoff, and encourage active transportation like cycling and walking.
And when it comes to parks, the report shows that not all green spaces are created equal. Simply setting aside a plot of land won’t necessarily lead to an inviting green space.
The study provides suggested improvements to a local park, located in a primarily residential area on the west side of the city. Those suggestions focus on planting native flowers and shrubs to create songbird habitat, muffle traffic sounds, and attract more people.
According to the report, “a site, like Almond Park, can provide a small habitat oasis for birds as they travel between larger habitat hubs.”
Unfortunately, Vancouver’s country lanes project never took off, largely due to cost concerns. But there are any number of similar ways for large urban centres to create green spaces in dense neighbourhoods that may not have room for large parks.
UBC PhD student Sara Barron spoke about the importance of urban and suburban green spaces after winning the world’s largest forestry scholarship in 2013.
“People are scared of density,” she said at the time. “But if you integrate trees and natural spaces within dense areas, it makes neighbourhoods more livable.”
By Maura Forrest, May 12, 2016