Issuu

empowerment EXPLORING THE INTRINSIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENGAGEMENT AND EMPATHY IN DESIGN

Including: Take Seeds, Leave Stories A Landscape Design Project Sparks a Partnership Creative Engagement For Meaningful Change On Punctuated Asymptote Bringing Parks to People Implementing and Elevating Sustainabiility Metrics in Practice

Publication of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

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ASLA-MN is the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) which represents nearly 300 professionals in the landscape architecture profession through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. ASLA, the national organization, has more than 18,000 members and 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world.

As a licensed profession in the state of Minnesota, landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Landscape Architectural projects range from academic campuses, conservation and natural areas, historic landscapes, parks and recreation, transportation corridors, urban design, water resources, and commercial and residential properties. To learn more about landscape architecture, visit www.asla.org or www.asla-mn.org.

ASLA-MN offers a variety of service projects, social events, networking, and continuing education opportunities. An elected Executive Committee typically meets monthly on the first Thursday from 4-6pm at the Crown Roller Mill Building to discuss, organize, and facilitate chapter activities. All ASLA-MN members are invited to attend these meetings.

_SCAPE Editorial

Executive Committee & At-Large Members

Aus Perez and Colin Thomasgard Co-Editors

Nicole Peterson President

JS Print Group, Duluth, MN Publisher

Rachel Blaseg President-Elect

Linda Spohr Secretary Katie Leise Treasurer

ON THE COVER

Nicole Peterson (Temporary) Director of Public Relations + Communications A. Graham Sones Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) Chapter Liaison Bruce Chamberlain Fellows Representative

Joni Giese Chapter Trustee

Laura Kamin-Lyndgaard Rachel Burand WxLA-MN

David Patten Ryan Hermes Co-Directors of Awards & Banquet

Nicole Delpizo Izabel Wilde Student Chapter

Bill Elliot Brit Erenler Co-Directors of Education & Professional Development

_SCAPE is published twice each year by the American Society of Landscape Architects - Minnesota Chapter (ASLA-MN). _SCAPE is FREE (in limited quantity). To subscribe, please send a request to: scape.aslamn@gmail.com

The All Nations Church pollinator-friendly garden was planted during the Community Planting Day in the summer of 2021. In total, 450 pollinator-friendly plants were placed with the help of the community, aiding in stormwater maintenance, pollinator habitat, as well as providing an outlet for the youth to engage with the soil itself.

Send general ASLA-MN inquiries, including sponsorships, to: ASLA-MN 18 N 12th Street PO Box 3910 Minneapolis, MN 55403 PH: 651.447.7841 communications@asla-mn.org

Send general _SCAPE inquiries, letters to the Editor, and article queries to: Aus Perez, co-Editor 111 S Washington Ave Unit 650 Minneapolis, MN 55401 scape.aslamn@gmail.com Colin Thomasgard, co-Editor 111 S Washington Ave Unit 650 Minneapolis, MN 55401 scape.aslamn@gmail.com

_SCAPE | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE #35

Ross Altheimer Past President

Jordan van der Hagen Mattie Wong Co-Directors of Programs

from the

President

Nicole Peterson PLA, ASLA

_SCAPE | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE #35

After a long and arduous winter, we are finally rewarded with what I hope will be a long, beautiful summer. No one loves summer more than Minnesotans, and this year, the warm weather feels especially sweet after record snowfalls and long, dark days. It’s time to get out and enjoy all our wonderful landscapes!

Over the long winter, ASLA-MN has been busy on the state and national level. As many of you know, Minneapolis is the host city for the 2023 Conference on Landscape Architecture, held October 27-30. ASLA-MN is busy planning, coordinating, and shaping this year’s conference alongside ASLA. Our goal is to create a conference that highlights all the incredible work we do in our metro area, state, and region, and to showcase everything Minneapolis has to offer. We want each attendee to leave having been wowed by Minnesota and the designers that call this place home, and to return home with a new understanding of what the Midwest has to offer. Thank you to each of our sub-committee co-chairs and members who are tirelessly working to make this conference one to remember — we truly could not do this without you.

Not to be overshadowed by the national conference, ASLA-MN had a slew of events this spring including our annual Education Symposium and Awards Banquet. This year, the event was held at beautiful Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. It was a wonderful day of education and an evening of celebration! For those seeking a more casual gathering, we also brought back the Bowling Brawl at Memory Lanes. There was some tough

from the

_SCAPE Editors

competition this year, but also plenty of fun, snacks, and door prizes. Our Programs team has more in store for you this summer, and we hope to see you at future events! Thank you to our tireless Programs volunteers.

Speaking of volunteers, we are always looking for people to help with various events and initiatives. If you are interested in helping out, whether it be for two hours or two years, please let us know by emailing us at connect@aslamn.org. With the additional responsibility of the national conference, we will need your help even more in 2023. I know we all lead busy lives these days, but even just a few hours of your time can make a big impact. Stay tuned to our website, emails, and social media channels for announcements about events, opportunities, and industry news. ASLA-MN is here to serve the landscape architecture community and continuously working to support our members. Thanks, Nicole Peterson

Nicole Peterson is a licensed landscape architect at Deeproot Green Infrastructure, creator and manufacturer of the Silva Cell. Nicole works with fellow landscape architects and skilled professionals around the world to create a more livable built environment. She holds a Masters of Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota and degrees in English Literature and Media Studies from St. Olaf College.

Aus Perez and Colin Thomasgard

With our inaugural release of this issue of _SCAPE, we’re excited to highlight a collection of articles focusing on successful examples of empowerment within our profession.

Our roles as designers is that of facilitators — heeding the call of our clients and their broader communities. However, this dialogue is a two-way street; our guidance is only as useful as the comments and lived experience shared from the communities themselves. This issue looks at examples of community empowerment at both high-level planning scales as well as down-to-earth, site-specific projects with local members taking an active role in their communities’ futures. We’re excited to have such a diverse cross-section of examples to share, including installations, art pieces, planning frameworks, and more. These projects are just a glimpse of the efforts undertaken by designers within our profession to create a more equitable and just dialogue within the conversation that is design. Enjoy,

Aus Perez + Colin Thomasgard

Aus Perez is a landscape designer at Bolton & Menk, Inc. They love to explore projects of all types and scales but have a special interest in master planning projects and social activism. They hold a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture from the University of NebraskaLincoln.

Colin Thomasgard is a landscape designer at Bolton & Menk, Inc. His interests lie in the overlap between art and design, with his favorite projects dealing with the urban landscape. He holds a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Take Seeds, Leave Stories: A Park(ing) Day Success Article Written by Brett Payton and Ning Gao Brett Payton, Senior Associate at Coen+Partners, drives his approach to design through his passion for process and storytelling. Brett strives to help create places and spaces that are artfully practical, simple, and dynamic.

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Ning Gao, Project Designer at Coen+Partners, is an emerging professional in the field of Landscape Architecture. She is striving for balance and harmony between the built environment and nature through comprehensive research, artful design, and empathy.

GUERILLA INSTALLATION Eighteen years ago, a trio of urbanist designers and thinkers in San Francisco bemoaned the escalating costs of real estate. They discovered that the area occupied by a parking space was shockingly cheap relative to other land costs in the city. As an act to enhance the public realm, the originators created a guerilla park: a temporary installation of turf, a tree, and a park bench

in a parking space. This novel space usage garnered national attention and spawned other designers and disruptors to examine streetscapes, parking spots, and the built environment.

Support and formality has evolved over the years for Park(ing) Day. Countless cities, non-profit organizations, student groups, and artists have explored varying “parklet” designs and installations. All these efforts have resulted in clear dividends by reclaiming and reimagining small plots of parking spots amidst our car-centric cities. Now, Park(ing) Day is officially promoted the third weekend of September every year. Coen+Partners have participated several times in years past and view it as a useful tool to engage with our community. For this scale of project, we want to “think big in small spaces.”

MESSAGING THROUGH TACTICAL URBANISM

When we decided to participate in Park(ing) Day in 2022, we identified a couple of distinct goals we wanted to achieve with the installation. Above all, we wanted people to interact with the project. Engaging with the public and passersby would animate the space and draw more attention. Participation in public spaces is paramount, whether it is a temporary parking stall or a large-scale urban park. As the iconic urbanist William Whyte once stated about public spaces, ““What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people.” So, how did we attract people? We studied several sites throughout the core of Minneapolis and landed at the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot. This location is incredibly active with walkers, joggers, bikers, and strollers; the lot is also heavily trafficked with a regular rotation of vehicular visitors. This prime location, with a backdrop of the Mississippi, had prominent visibility for our “park.”

Figure 1: A child enjoying their time in the finished Park(ing) Day installation

Aside from location, what else encourages interactivity? We knew this installation had to look sculptural—intriguing enough for people to inquisitively pause. We needed something to prompt them to visit us. Our firm strives for design excellence on every project we endeavor, regardless if it is temporary or permanent, large-scale civic work or (in this case) a 600-square-foot section of asphalt. We are inspired by regional context, intrigued by the essence of place, and drive to honor the people that use our spaces. Our approach to this installation was no different.

Since a Park(ing) Day is temporary, we also had to think about materiality, constructability, and what to do with parklet postinstallation.

TAKE SEEDS

With any project, we generate concepts based on vigorous research and then synthesize that research into a compelling narrative—doing our best to present our design idea through the voice of a wise storyteller.

Instead of the contextual analysis we typically do of a site, we used this temporary pop-up to help the community dig deep within ourselves to understand the contexts in which we live. For that goal, we meditated on topics that everyone would have a connection with, while the specifics of their connection would be highly individualistic.

For Park(ing) Day, we were instantly inspired to explore the topic of food through the lens of native plants. This topic resonates deeply with us as landscape architects and is increasingly important as families and communities grapple with access to food and soaring costs. People are aware of the ornamental traits of plants, from foliage to flowers, but so many overlook the nourishing and nurturing aspects of what grows around us. We focused specifically on a palette native to Minnesota, with plants that aren’t grown in vegetable gardens or available at the grocery store. From there, we quickly focused on a desire to somehow gift these native plants to the community we have called home for our 30-year history as a firm.

It wasn’t feasible to hand out full-grown potted plants. Instead, we centered on the most atomic element—the humble seed, from which springs all the trees and flowers that bring fresh air, color, and calm to our world, as well as much of our food and medicine. With the help of allied business partners, we curated and packaged a palette of native seeds to raise awareness of all the amazing edible and medicinal plants that make their homes with us in this city. The simple act of freely giving these seeds to passersby drew attention to the importance of the growing world, which is often dismissed in the hustle-and-bustle of the city. Additionally, the seeds that visitors took home to plant in their gardens expands the parklet beyond its modest space and temporary timeline.

Figure 3: Finished installation

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Figure 2: Conceptual rendering of installation

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We grappled with various ways to display the seeds. During brainstorming sessions and scribbles in our sketchbooks, we developed an idea inspired by the land. Specifically, we wanted to represent terrain as a geometric abstraction. To do this, we considered many different materials implemented in different configurations. Our exploration led us to use cardboard tubes designed to form concrete footings. This material was rigid enough to become a constructed element, yet light enough for transport, and was easy to modify. To depict an abstract representation of terrain, we laid out the tubes in a symmetrical formation that spanned our two parking stalls. From one corner to the other, the tubes stepped down in height, only to get taller in the other direction. This created an undulating, mirrored effect. Once we were satisfied with the overall form, we debated about ways to display seeds. We had to come up with an eye-catching way to encourage people to take seeds. We knew the overall cardboard tube form would draw in curious folks, but we still needed a convenient way of displaying the seeds. Inspired by the idea of seeds being planted and growing from the earth, we cut holes in the sides of the tubes (huge shout-out to Streeter Custom Builder for assisting with this undertaking!). In these holes, we wrapped seed packets in colorful tissue paper to represent the many ornamental and nourishing aspects of the plants. To top-off the installation, we incorporated potted plants in every other tube. This softened and animated the overall composition.

The seed mix we used was provided by Prairie Restorations, Inc. It contained Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). These plants can be used for teas, salads, spices, medicine, and garnishing. We also provided an informational pamphlet at the site, which contained information about this specific seed mix as well as other native plants found in the wild.

Materials Used:

1. Cardboard tubes traditionally used for concrete footings

2. Seed mix highlighting local food and medicinal plants

3. Colorful tissue paper

Figure 4: In exchange for packets of seed mix, we collected thoughts on nature, food, and culture from passersby

_SCAPE | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE #35

Figure 5: Local community members sharing their thoughts on the installation

Figure 6: The installation echoed the undulation of rolling hills and featured a mixture of local plants

LEAVE STORIES For us, the meaning of those humble seeds goes beyond the plants that they yield. We see seeds as an ephemeral element that enables the richest stories of our heritage and community to flow through time. No seeds means no food, which means no cultural cuisine and food culture. No seeds means no trees and shrubs and flowers to bring life, color, and hope back to us every spring (which is a *big deal* for Minnesotans). It was important for our installation to create opportunities to meditate on and celebrate these aspects of the rich diversity that makes up our community here in Minneapolis—to build an experience for visitors to learn about the food traditions and edible plants of all those that make up our community.

The people that were kind enough to interact with us made this endeavor worthwhile. Below are all the comments we received on notecards. These blurbs range from whimsical to nonsensical to meaningful—providing a true cross-section of humanity’s interaction with the growing world around us.

_SCAPE | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE #35

SPROUT

As we reflect on this installation, we see success. Interacting with people through temporary sculpture and delivering a

message is powerful. In this way, tactical urbanism is sort of a “seed” of its own. Such installations create a pop of interest in the environment, and spark conversation and dialogue that lives on beyond the ephemeral lifespan of the project. Park(ing) Day is a powerful movement which we are proud to be a part of, and we look forward to sprouting up a new installation next year. We also achieved our goal of “zero waste,” thanks to the imaginative spirit of the local community. The installation was disassembled and all of the tubes and materials were donated to community members: a small business owner, a theater set designer, and a non-profit rabbit rescue gathered the tubes to repurpose and reconstruct. We hope, in a small way, that we encouraged the folks to think about plants, food stories, and art in a slightly different way. Hopefully the seeds taken from our parklet have been planted across the city and will begin to sprout in the coming weeks— yielding nourishment and opportunities to share new stories and sow new memories. We wouldn’t have been able to execute our Park(ing) Day installation without the contributions of our partners: Landscape Renovations, Prairie Restorations Inc., Streeter Custom Builder, and Bachman’s. Also, we appreciate the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation for helping with facilitating and permitting the event.

This is really eye-catching • My grandma made the best raspberry jam • I was fortunate enough to live across the street from a beautiful garden for almost 50 years... it nurtured my soul • I love lavender plants or Russian sage! • Green always beats grey.

Cheers for this reminder! • Sage is used for drink and medicinal use in Pakistan. • Growth is never linear • It’s just so beautiful! • I

smuggled tea leaves from a remote mountain range in Bulgaria • My mother used to hand-water apple trees on my grandpa’s farm during the Great Depression • We used to hide food from my mother because she was such a horrible cook • I love plants! • Plants

and nature are extremely grounding and healing... they provide a gentle space • When I moved to Dubai, I was expecting just desert, but it was all urban. Moving here was a miracle... be appreciative of nature • First I was upset that a fungus was taking over my

squash plant and eating it slowly then I realized... it’s the circle of life • We need to keep Mother Earth happy and healthy • Thanks for opening up my eyes. Fantastic installation... very apropos and enlightening • I always love family holiday dinners • Hoping to

turn part of my yard to native plants. Lawn is not eco-friendly • My dog likes to eat grass • Growing tea, thank you bees, sun-tanned knees, and happy company • In my culture, tea ceremonies bring family and friends together • Food is a universal language and I hope this seed packet will bring those memories back • Thanks for the seeds! • Mint... for mint juleps • Growing plants from seed

is one of the greatest joys • Must have flowers, always • Enjoying gardening with my grandparents • Plant more pollinators! • One year we made jack-o-lanterns from watermelons that weren’t ripe and apples from the store • Seeds have many uses • I love the

idea of this installation... it’s promoting green. Awesome! • We love to attract the bees and butterflies • I had blue jays that ate my tomatoes • Cooking is about passion and imagination • Keep doing stuff like this on the waterfront • Love seeds and all the lovely

fruits they give us in the summer • To hell with grass... I want some native plant reclaiming theirs! • Plants in the ruins • I grew up having to help my dad plant all of his seeds, but those darn squirrels at all of our tomatoes • Growing from seed can be hard but

rewarding • So sad that we live in a condo, otherwise I would bring these seeds home • I love gardening during a sunny day! • One

of the most satisfying moments I experienced around food was catching, preparing, and cooking fish from a lake • This looks like an art installation

Figure 7: Transcription of every “story” collected from passersby

Mike Konieczny, ASLA Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin 800.430.6206 x1311 mikek@landscapeforms.com

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WE ARE SOIL EXPERTS

A Landscape Design Project Sparks a Partnership Article Written by Aleli Balagtas, Erin Bogle, Makayla Freeman, and Rich Harrison Aleli Balagtas is the Editor at Metro Blooms. She has been with Metro Blooms since 2018. Working for Metro Blooms has opened her eyes to the importance of the natural spaces in our urban environments and the things we can do as individuals or together to care for them. She enjoys taking walks in the woods and identifying plants.

_SCAPE | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE #35

Erin Bogle is the Director of Community Relations at Metro Blooms. In addition to Environmental Justice, they are passionate about community organizing, public libraries, and disability justice and have a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Library and Information Science.

Makayla Freeman is the Environmental and Social Justice Coordinator at Metro Blooms. She is also a student at Minneapolis Community & Technical College, as well as an apprentice in Youth N’Power, a community organizing program working through the lens of environmental justice. Working with Metro Blooms is a great opportunity for her to be engaged in her community and make new connections, and also to add bioswales, gardens and trees in her neighborhood. Rich Harrison is Co-Director Of Design at Metro Blooms Design+Build. He is a Registered Landscape Architect with a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on sustainable design, placemaking, and community development. Rich has worked on water quality issues for more than two decades. For Rich, on-site treatment of stormwater is the best way to prevent pollution and preserve our precious water resources. He believes that education and facilitating the understanding of how our actions impact our natural environment is critical to successful design. In 2020, Metro Blooms started working with All Nations Seventh-Day Adventist Church in North Minneapolis on a landscape redesign incorporating more earth-friendly practices in managing stormwater and protecting pollinators. It was the seed that started a partnership that has grown beyond the church yard. Today we work with the All Nations Youth and Community Assistance Program (ANYCAP) on programming that connects participants to the environment, supports community for youth and develops tangible skills in sustainable landcare. Metro Blooms is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Our mission is to partner with communities to create resilient landscapes and foster clean watersheds, embracing the values of equity and inclusion to solve environmental challenges. Much of our work is in partnership with environmental justice communities. We center community priorities, bringing what we have to the table to help the community meet its needs and goals. These can include, among other things, creating more resilient landscapes and better quality of outdoor living for residents; sourcing funding to implement projects; paid training and work opportunities; and opportunities to connect to the environment.

We met the All Nations Church community in 2020. Metro Blooms had received a City of Minneapolis grant to create comprehensive stormwater management plans for businesses, organizations and other entities in the area. These plans would include actions to improve water quality, enhance a property

Figure 8: Participants in sustainable landcare training in Northside Minneapolis, Summer 2022

garden at the Sunnyside Peace and Prayer Garden located near the church.

Following the training, a core group from ANYCAP became a paid crew for some of Metro Blooms’ boulevard planting projects. The boulevard work is part of a City of Minneapolis program to create pollinator-friendly boulevard rain gardens. Kollie and Lenda George, another church member working with ANYCAP, led the crew in planting 15 boulevard rain gardens, and maintained six sites. “We loved helping with the project because it gave us time with our youth to connect. We had the opportunity to put our hands in the dirt and work with the soil,” George said. “Most of us, and the kids especially, don’t have that here.”

“We were inspired by Bendu and Lenda’s leadership in creating space for connection, trust, and relationship-building,” said Erin Bogle, Community Relations Director for Metro Blooms, “and we believe that caring for our land and caring for each other go hand in hand. We are excited for what comes next!”

THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Figure 9: Planting a rain garden at a community planting event at All Nations Church, 2021

aesthetics, and create habitat for pollinators. The church became one of our project partners. Rich Harrison, Metro Blooms CoDirector of Design, created the design, and public and private funding helped to make the project a reality. The landscape installation culminated in a community planting event in the summer of 2021.

Landscape architect Rich Harrison remembers his first experience with the All Nations Church congregation well. It was a Saturday, and he arrived expecting to do a presentation about Metro Blooms’s work at a get-together in the basement

Bendu Kollie, a church member involved with the project, saw opportunities beyond making the church yard more attractive and resilient. Kollie, who immigrated from Liberia more than 20 years ago, described the congregation as “a beautiful mix of people coming together” from different countries. She is an active church member, especially in supporting youth, and said that many church members, particularly parents like herself, have had the shared experience of culture shock as they and their children have adjusted to life here as immigrants.

Kollie started a conversation with us about working with ANYCAP. She knew about our Blue Thumb Sustainable Landcare Training program, and saw potential for the training to help youth get outdoors, connect with others, and spark their interest in the environment through gardening. The landcare training program is a 20-hour paid learning program that teaches participants skills in maintaining the kinds of earthfriendly practices installed at the church. Participants learn about stormwater management, native plant identification and maintenance, insect identification and creating pollinator habitat, among other things. For some people, the training provides job-ready skills; for others it can be a step along a career pathway in environmental work. It was a good fit. The idea came to fruition last summer. Many ANYCAP members were part of a cohort of 25 Northside community members who completed the landcare training program. As part of the training, the cohort planted a pollinator

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The work is evolving as our relationship grows. Looking ahead, we hope to expand the program to include dedicated time for youth crew members to focus on self-care and community care. And we’re excited about the possibility of ANYCAP youth we worked with last year leading some of the work this year.

Figure 10: Community planting event at All Nations Church, 2021

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Figure 11: An All Nations Church member volunteers during a community planting event, 2021

after church. Services were still in progress, so he joined the congregation. He was noticed. Before he knew it, he was standing at the pulpit introducing himself and Metro Blooms.

“It was the first time that I’ve ever ‘preached’ in a place of worship about stormwater management and habitat and community and all the things that we do,” Harrison says with a chuckle. “It was really a great experience.”

Harrison, Co-Director of Design at Metro Blooms Design+Build, draws on his technical expertise and work experience, including 10 years at Metro Blooms, to partner with communities on defining the goals of a landscape design project. He’s a licensed landscape architect in the state of Minnesota with a background in environmental science and urban planning. He also has a particular interest in the role of green infrastructure in on-site treatment of stormwater.

In projects like the one with All Nations Church, community priorities are heard and discussions are had about opportunities for creating environmental resilience. “What are the parameters where we can help create beautiful, functional, biodiverse outdoor spaces?” Harrison asks. Considerations include how the landscape is used and understanding how rainwater interfaces with the space below. As a designer, Harrison believes that how our actions affect the natural world is critical to successful design, so there are discussions of bigger-picture environmental considerations

like creating habitat for pollinators as well as weather-related challenges related to climate change such as extreme heat and intense rainstorms.

At the church, much of the property drained to a flat triangularshaped side yard with a steep slope break near the public sidewalk. In Harrison’s design, the roofs of the church and the house next door (part of the church), as well as a multi-use pollinator friendly lawn area, drains to a rain garden along the edge of the side yard. The slope of the yard required adding a retaining wall, built from boulders, before excavating the rain garden. In addition, there were opportunities for infill planting among existing shrubs along the church foundation. The excavation, wall building, and site prep was done in late fall of 2020.

The following year, during the summer, church members and Metro Blooms volunteers turned out during a community event — planting some 450 pollinator-friendly native plants, including prairie blazing star, swamp milkweed, black-eyed Susans, prairie onion and penstemon, among others. The rain garden is close to a door many people enter during a weekly food distribution. This made it a strategic location for an interpretative sign, another way for people to connect to the work. The sign helps people understand some of the elements considered in the project, including stormwater, native plants and helping pollinators.

HOW WE ENGAGE COMMUNITIES

At Metro Blooms, we strive to make engagement equitable through developing real relationships, supporting opportunities for silenced voices to be heard, and implementing what we’ve heard from those most impacted by environmental and social injustices. Developing long-term community relationships that expand beyond one-time projects is important to our work. We’ve been in relationship with Bendu and Lenda from the All Nations Church for years. In this time, they’ve organized a cohort from their community to attend Sustainable Landcare Training and are stewards of the ongoing work of organizing and coordinating meetings and boulevard maintenance. We’ve been honored to learn alongside them in this process. With the Northside Healing Space’s Liberty Community Church, another partner, we worked with the community to plant a boulevard garden and, later, another garden at the church — with a big community turnout! We’ve continued this partnership by adding more gardens, assisting in watering and maintenance, and meeting and checking in over lunch or coffee.

It’s a priority to pay the people and organizations involved in our projects, including residents, for sharing their expertise. We support and work with our community partners to access grant funding to implement our partners’ vision. We pay youth to attend landcare training and to do ongoing maintenance, and we pay community mentors who support the youth. We also provide stipends for those who join us at community plantings and engagement activities. At every multi-family housing site that we work with, we pay residents as project stewards who help us engage with their neighbors over the course of the project. The people we partner with deserve to be paid for their hard work, time, and expertise. Our work is also intergenerational; we don’t let age be a barrier when it comes to communicating, learning, and teaching. We have social justice and environmental justice advocates that started working while attending high school, and who partner closely with elders and youth in the community. We value the wisdom of people of all ages and experiences.

We aim to support conditions for community members to be meaningfully involved in projects that promote and put environmental justice and sustainability principles into practice. We’ve found developing long term relationships, being intergenerational, and paying people for their contributions are some of the important practices that help make our goals possible.

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“This might seem like a small 1500-sq-ft project, but its impacts to the environment and community are profound and will continue to ripple far into the future,” Harrison says. “The best part of my job is seeing how much fun a community is having when planting a resilient landscape together, then hearing people talk about it with others after it’s all done. Let’s keep the conversation going!”

Figure 12: Youth volunteers, some of them for the first time, helped plant gardens at All Nations Church during the community planting day

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Creative Engagement For Meaningful Change, With an Adaptable Framework Article Written by Paul Nelson, Danielle Propst, and Amanda Prosser Paul Nelson, PLA, was the Storm Lake Downtown Plan’s leading landscape architect. Using a listen-first approach, he applies 9+ years of experience to incorporate community context and vision into successful designs for new and repurposed spaces across various markets in the Midwest.

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Danielle Propst, AICP, served as the project manager and planner for the Storm Lake Downtown Plan. Her breadth of experience leading comprehensive community planning efforts, public engagement strategies, and financial resource and outreach programs across the Midwest allows her to help create dynamic and feasible solutions for communities of all sizes.

Amanda Prosser, PLA, leads ISG’s landscape architecture team and sports and recreation market. A recent ASLA-MN Executive Committee member with 18+ years of industry experience, she is passionate about empowering communities and designers to create meaningful transformations in urban and recreational landscapes. Her expertise and creativity helped to inform the planning process for the Storm Lake Downtown Plan.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS? EMBRACE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

AN ADAPTABLE ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: KEY INGREDIENTS

Meaningful and lasting change — That is the goal of any community planning effort. To achieve transformative solutions that are feasible, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Why is that? Because every community is different.

1. Educate… On plan progress and solution options. This can be done by sharing project information online and through paper or digital deliverables to be mailed, shared, or presented during engagement events.

Budgets, needs, and priorities all are unique aspects of a community that work to define what change will be feasible, successful, and bring the most value.

ISG has found that incorporating community and stakeholder engagement and feedback opportunities early in and throughout the planning process results in a better understanding of the unique aspects of a community’s vision and restrictions, resulting in more successful plans and long-term solutions. While the distinctive needs, goals, trends, and culture will influence the type and timing of engagement events and opportunities, there are key themes to successful engagement that can be replicated and adapted across any project and location. These themes are outlined in this article and align with the tried-and-true International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation.

2. Engage… Stakeholders in the planning process by hosting meaningful conversations to discuss plans and gather their feedback. From user group meetings to community surveys, various methods can be leveraged to involve community members and gather valuable insight on community needs and goals.

3. Empower… By welcoming the collective voice of the community to guide plans and proposed projects. Incorporate their wants and needs into designs that create new opportunities or enhance existing ones.

THE FRAMEWORK IN ACTION

In coordination with local leaders, influencers, and stakeholders, ISG created an implementable, forward-thinking strategic plan that enhances the identity and experience of Downtown Storm Lake, Iowa. The vision for the Storm Lake Downtown Master

To give the citizens of Storm Lake, Iowa, the agency to guide change in their downtown plan, ISG embraced a process that aligns with the above engagement framework. This framework blended robust community engagement throughout planning to create feasible ideas that the community supports. From the start, planners worked to educate the community with visual and accessible information on the latest project details and proposed improvement options. This involved ISG generating a wide spectrum of multilingual deliverables, including boards, flyers, presentations, and reports.

To engage the larger public in the planning process, planners then had personal and group discussions with community members. Facilitating welcoming events, like an ice-cream social, at public locations outside of regular business hours allowed the planning team to meet community members where they were, present information, and gather feedback using various activities. One activity involved dot voting on proposed site features, programming, and branding options.

To ensure information was accessible virtually, a project website was implemented. An online survey was also deployed, serving as a virtual community feedback option. Each engagement opportunity resulted in the following survey responses, which were essential in helping planners to understand the vision, needs, and culture of Storm Lake residents. Planners then empowered the community’s collective personality and goals by instilling them into meaningful and feasible plans. This framework resulted in the following ideas and five site concepts that will transform Storm Lake’s Downtown.

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Plan focused on revitalizing the area’s traditional small-town character and quality-of-life. Improvement strategies reflected and celebrated the community’s diversity and history. Since early 2022, ISG has completed downtown parking and walkability studies for the project. The firm then assisted the City with facilitating community engagement events and surveys to present findings and initial improvement concepts. Designers refined plans based on community feedback and provided a final strategic planning document.

STORM LAKE LIBRARY + WITTER GALLERY PLAZA A tired, inactive plaza space becomes a harmony garden with new plantings, culturally significant instruments, art components, charging outlets, and gathering space.

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MICHIGAN STREET EVENT SPACE A highly visible corner lot that had been embraced for impromptu use is expanded and made permanent with space for games, shade, seating, and social interaction.

DOWNTOWN GATEWAY A paved, car-focused frontage is re-evaluated and prioritized for pedestrian activation, becoming a welcoming gateway to downtown life.

RAILROAD STREET BREWERY An underused space is transformed by replacing a dirt patch with a new community gathering space that features a deck, overhang, new plantings, and paved game area.

Walkability and circulation improvements make the downtown more pedestrian friendly. Added green space around the existing gazebo and other areas enhance existing features and create inviting spaces to gather.

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LAKE AVENUE NORTH IMPROVEMENTS

Results of the people-powered plan have already helped the City to secure $50,000 in grant funding. This money was applied for during the planning process and secured before formal adoption of the plan by City Council. The funds are being used to offer an immediate impact toward implementing the first project phase at the Storm Lake Library and Witter Gallery Plaza, which includes musical instruments, plantings, charging bollards, and other furnishings. To continue supporting the Downtown Storm Lake community, ISG will remain nimble to assist with future grant submittals that could help bring their visions to life.

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On Punctuated Asymptote: Empathy as an Empowering Force Article Written by Sophia Chai

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Sophia Chai is a Rochester-based artist. Upcoming exhibitions include her second solo exhibition with Hair+Nails Gallery in Minneapolis in September 2023 and a solo exhibition at Light Work in Syracuse, NY in early 2024.

Punctuated Asymptote is my first public, permanent art project I began working on in the summer of 2020. Through the process of working on this project, I have had the opportunity to reflect deeper on the meaning of empathy and empowerment and how they are intrinsically related. Punctuated Asymptote is an art integration project situated within Discovery Walk, the newest initiative of Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the city of Rochester. Discovery Walk is a linear pedestrian park located in the center of downtown Rochester, MN. Construction has been well underway and significant process was made on the first two-block section of the project in 2022. Discovery Walk spans four city blocks on Second Avenue SW, connecting the main campus of Mayo Clinic to the north, and to the south, Soldiers Field Park and Zumbro River. Various businesses are situated along the route, including the new Discovery Square buildings, research laboratories, and People’s Food Co-op, a local grocery store. By doing away with the parking lanes previously flanking both sides of the road, an expanded space for pedestrians will become available with multiple amenities, including various configurations of benches and seating areas. The new park/path will provide a muchneeded place for relaxation and rest, for the city and nearby residents, visitors, and many employees who work in this rapidly growing downtown area.

I was thrilled when I first heard about the proposal for a new garden-like footpath happening right here in Rochester, a city that has been my home for a little over five years now. I spent most of my adolescence and young adulthood living in New York City without ever learning to drive - getting around New York City or any other big city in a personal vehicle is really not that practical with its non-stop traffic congestion and a dearth of parking. When I moved to Rochester, one of the first things that I needed to do was sign up for driving lessons. There was simply not an easy way to get around the city without a car and even walking around the downtown area I was struck by the number of parking lots and parking ramps that populate many different intersections around downtown. The intention behind Discovery Walk, to provide a much more pedestrian-friendly space that is verdant and healthy replete with a myriad of plant life, felt like a timely and significant step towards making this rapidly growing

city more beautiful and vibrant. The opportunity to participate in this project as an artist was something that I embraced immediately with enthusiasm.

One of the interesting parameters that became clear at the initial thinking around the art for Discovery Walk was that it needed to be more of an integrated idea rather than a stand-alone piece. In other words, the artwork needed to be part of the essential features of Discovery Walk, rather than, say, a free-standing sculpture. This was an interesting problem for me to tackle as I had begun to directly explore the approach of site-specificity with my photographs since moving to Rochester. Just as I feel the way around the space before making my photographs in the studio corner, I listen for a certain kind of hint or beckoning in a space, whether that is a gallery space where I exhibit my work or the downtown streets of Rochester.

In this activity of becoming attentive to a space, I look for ways to find a slippage or a dissonance that can unshroud and reveal something new that was perhaps, too ordinary and easily overlooked previously or merely seen as a hindrance.

The idea behind Punctuated Asymptote takes inspiration from the topography of the project location. Comprised of 62 light poles spanning the entire length of Discovery Walk, they not only function as a source of illumination along the path but also serve as punctuated markers that together, draw an asymptotic line against the curve of the land. The top of each light draws a horizontal line by each of the 62 lights having a unique length and yet, reaching the same elevation from the sea level. Such a perspectival experience that guides you to draw a line in your mind is intimately related to my own studio practice as an artist. In my studio, I use the optical mechanics of the view camera to delve into the questions about space and perception, specifically how we see, feel, and know. Rather than taking the camera outside, I draw and paint different shapes and colors on my studio walls and floor directly. After photographing the composition in the studio corner, I then paint over the space and begin the process again. Through the translation of a three-dimensional corner space onto a two-dimensional, 4x5 viewfinder of my camera, I find the collapse of cohesion and incongruence happening simultaneously. No matter how the fixity of the perspective of the camera may suggest the picture being factual and steady, the illusion of a flattened space rendered in a photograph reveals much more about the way

Figure 14: A preliminary sketch for Punctuated Asymptote

we see the world. I’m interested in that liminal space of seeing where we succeed and fail at the same time.

The contradiction brought on by the illusory effect present in my photographs can be a metaphor for my own personal experience of immigrating to the United States at the age of 14 from South Korea. Navigating different cultures and languages while simultaneously attempting to speak the language of adulthood - by having to translate on behalf of my parents whose English skills were even poorer than my own - was difficult. The process of assimilation in this new country where I had to constantly negotiate and re-negotiate the unwritten codes of conduct in my middle school classroom at I.S. 25 in Queens, NY, isn’t too dissimilar from the back-and-forth negotiation I employ in making my own photographs in the studio, where I withhold certain presumptions and expectations of what a picture is in order to make space for a new visual language. The custom color of the light poles is based on the hue of Chroma Key Blue. It’s a color often used in TV/Video production to easily select the background and swap it for a different one. The paradox of this color being readily rendered invisible because of its high visibility relates to the experiences specific to my racial identity. Gaining a sense of empowerment as an immigrant teenager from South Korea meant being able to speak freely without the fear of misunderstanding or worse yet, being misunderstood. In the end, what helped me the most, far more than my eventual grasp of the new language and culture, was voicing my own thoughts after I finally learned to accept my own imperfections and vulnerabilities. A new sense of empathy towards my own shortcomings has helped in opening myself up to different perspectives and viewpoints. By pivoting a line in different directions, one can draw a line going down from the wall to the floor that appears straight when seen through the lens of the camera. Similarly, with a slight shift in your body position, you will see a different picture, a whole new viewpoint. Echoing the unique height of each light pole, the lights will also turn on and off at slightly different times in a cascading succession at each day’s beginning and end of civil twilight. Given the proximity of Discovery Walk to the Mayo Clinic, where many visitors are often having to make the most difficult decisions, I wanted to offer this daily moment that happens every day resolutely, an invitation to take a pause and reflect on each day’s solar event.

Figure 13: A diagram for Punctuated Asymptote

At the south end of Discovery Walk, where the spot elevation measures the lowest, the light fixture measures almost 15 feet tall. Yet, at the highest point on Discovery Walk, the length of the light fixture is just 4 feet tall. A child can easily walk up to

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When walking along the site of Discovery Walk on Second Avenue SW, I noticed the gentle sloping of the hill that gradually went up on an incline due south from the Mayo campus. Upon reaching the highest point just south of Forth Street SW, in front of Discovery Square, the hill descended gradually down towards the Soldiers Field Park. I came to learn that the topography of the site is characteristic of this part of Southeastern Minnesota known as the Driftless Area, where during the most recent glaciation period, the ice drifts did not reach and flatten the area as they did in other parts of the Upper Midwest. The absence of ice drifts defined the region’s geologic characteristics with bluffs, ridges, and land, marked by its uneven terrain.

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Figure 15: A view of Discovery Walk site near the Soldiers Field where installation has begun for Punctuated Asymptote

it and touch the top. Can the reckoning of the variable lengths of the light poles open up a portal to an awareness of different perspectives and narratives? Further, can that portal be activated as a conduit for empathy?

To feel empathic is to become aware of one’s own perspective as well as the different viewpoints of others. Further yet, empathy allows us to envision ourselves in different roles, perhaps, even a role of a leader. To be able to envision yourself taking on a role and becoming responsible for making positive changes for your community and possibly broader society is essentially what empowerment can be. The top of a street lamp, a height that may be out of one’s reach, but made tenable and therefore possible, through the act of envisioning can then become a place one can possibly claim as their own in the future. .....

Figure 16: Installation view of Interpolation at Hair+Nails Gallery, Minneapolis, 2020

The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the collaborators at Coen+Partners who have been instrumental in developing and realizing an idea that began as a simple sketch, especially, Britton Jones, Frank Fitzgerald, Wei Zhang, Chad Miller, Chuck Stewart, and Shane Coen.

Figure 17: Installation view of Shaft Composition #5&6, Rochester Art Center, 2020

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Bringing Parks to People A Lesson in Engaging Underrepresented Community Members Article Written by Ann Rexine and Maggie Heurung Ann Rexine guides the Parks to People Plan across multidisciplinary internal and external teams, committees, and partners to realize the final document for submission to Metropolitan Council.

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Maggie Heurung, brings her public policy and planning strengths to expand Three Rivers community engagement efforts within the Parks to People Plan.

Three Rivers Park District is a natural resources-based park system in suburban Hennepin County. They were established in 1957 by the Minnesota Legislature to acquire, develop and maintain regional parks, park reserves, and trails. Three Rivers manages nearly 27,000 acres of parkland and 170 miles of regional trails. Their staff of more than 2,000 employees (full-time, part-time, and seasonal) work together to carry out the mission to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. Three Rivers Park District is the regional park agency serving suburban Hennepin County, yet a trip through the firstring communities of suburban Hennepin County bordering Minneapolis reveals a lack of regional parks located in those cities. To access Three Rivers’ regional parks, residents of first-ring communities must travel – typically by car or other personal vehicle – to parks such as French Regional Park in Plymouth; Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Champlin and Dayton; and Baker Park Reserve in Medina and Maple Plain. Three Rivers aims to change that, and they have taken their quest directly to residents of first-ring Hennepin County communities to provide input.

But first, let’s take a closer look at why there are no Three Rivers facilities within the first ring.

THE BEGINNING | PARKLAND AT A PREMIUM

Starting after World War II, Hennepin County’s suburbs developed quickly. Communities like Richfield, Crystal, New Hope and Brooklyn Center saw farmland turn to housing developments seemingly overnight. Multi-lane highways and freeways connecting these communities to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul became familiar ribbons on the landscape - the car was (and still is) king.

As a new park agency in the 1960s, Three Rivers quickly set out to acquire land for parks where it was available. It was a race to acquire large tracts of land in western Hennepin County before they were developed. Today, while the region benefits

What does Three Rivers mean when they say “first-ring?” • • •

Bloomington: east of 35W Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park: south of Hwy 610 Crystal, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, New Hope, Richfield, Robbinsdale and St. Louis Park

from numerous parks in western Hennepin County like CrowHassan Park Reserve and Fish Lake Regional Park, the first-ring communities developed before large land areas could be set aside for parks.

PLAN TO PROVIDE PARKS TO FIRST-RING SUBURBS TAKES SHAPE

Since the early 2000s, Three Rivers has prioritized serving firstring Hennepin County residents better. Its most recent longrange visioning initiative, called the Parks to People Plan, aims to connect first-ring Hennepin County community members to nature every day by defining and developing “bridging facility” investments – a new Metropolitan Council category that helps introduce new outdoor recreation users to the regional parks system. Bridging facilities are physically located within first-ring communities and can take the form of parks and/or programming. Their main purpose is to provide nature-based experiences for new users to become familiar and comfortable with spending time in regional parks. To identify, develop, and ensure the success of new bridging facilities, the Parks to People Plan invited the public to be a key member of the planning process. Specifically, Three Rivers has sought, and continues to seek, input from those who are underrepresented at Hennepin County regional parks -specifically members of the BIPOC community, new immigrants and refugees, adults over the age of 75, households earning less than $50,000 per year, and those with a range of mental and physical abilities.

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29 Figure 18: Young people participate in the Parks to People nature activities at a Family Day Event co-hosted by Three Rivers Parks and African Career and Education Resources, Inc.

Determining new ways of delivering Three Rivers services to first-ring communities who have been underserved required engaging the public differently. Although the bridging facility category allows for flexibility and creativity, this Plan is also the first in the region to determine the many different forms these facilities could take within the first-ring service area. The Three Rivers planning team quickly realized this project was not going to be business-as-usual and needed to be thoughtful and intentional to not only better reach and serve these communities, but also set an example for partner agencies in the region. Community feedback from these underrepresented groups needed to drive the Parks to People Plan from the beginning.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

Engagement was divided into three phases over a three-year period (2021 – 2023), which included gathering preliminary engagement, gaining a deeper understanding, and verifying feedback.

Phase 1: Gathering Preliminary Engagement through Mobile Voting Activity In early 2021, the Parks to People Plan team knew they wanted to start talking to first-ring residents to get a better sense of residents’ familiarity with Three Rivers and potential interests and barriers to participation. Since the project’s service area included 11 cities, a mobile voting activity was created to bring to community events and spaces that would make it fun and easy for people to provide feedback. Community events and spaces were sought out that were either located in concentrated areas of underrepresented groups or aimed to serve them. Three Rivers partnered closely with colleagues and community partners to attend more than 45 events. The voting activity included the initial questions “what nature adventures would you like to try, learn more about, or do more often in your neighborhood?” and “what were some reasons why you either have not tried it or do not do it more often?” Participants would pick a color according to why they had not tried the activity or done it more often and would put it in the pocket. This activity also served as a tool to share information about Three Rivers, such as existing parks, offerings, and fee assistance programs.

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Phase 2: Gaining a Deeper Understanding through Focus Groups During the summer of 2022, Three Rivers sought to gain a deeper understanding of cultural recreation nuances, social behaviors, preferred communication channels and economic drivers influencing participation. To implement this engagement phase, Three Rivers received a Statewide Health Improvement Project (SHIP) grant from Hennepin County Public Health to hire community facilitators that could help connect with underrepresented communities. Three Rivers worked with four community facilitators and two community organizations to host 16 focus groups (and counting). These focus groups centered around underrepresented communities in the firstring service area, including people with disabilities, Latino community members, African American/Black community members, adults ages 75 and older, and Hmong community members. Three Rivers staff provided technical support, food, and $25 participant gift cards while the facilitators planned the logistics to meet the needs of their community and recruited participants. Community facilitators worked with Three Rivers to create the focus group questions – but led the discussion while Three Rivers provided support by setting up, attending and answering questions.

Phase 3: Verifying Feedback by Piloting Projects Three Rivers received another SHIP grant from Hennepin County Public Health in 2023 to hire community facilitators from underrepresented communities to test feedback heard in previous engagement phases. Community facilitators will each lead three events or recreational sampler activities for participants to try. This feedback will ultimately drive bridging facility recommendations, including how they should be delivered and where they should be located. Three Rivers staff will support community facilitators and their events by providing background information, supporting planning efforts, and providing equipment, training, staff, and funding when needed. Three Rivers staff will attend these recreational sampler activities and events to provide technical assistance and gather feedback to incorporate into the final Parks to People Plan.

LESSONS LEARNED

Delivery of community engagement throughout the Parks to People Plan has involved numerous discussions around approach and metrics to measure success. At the outset of the process, planning staff outlined engagement steps and anticipated outcomes, then pivoted based on feedback received from community partners, facilitators, and members throughout the engagement. Of course, community engagement looks different for different projects and communities, but Three Rivers planning team has learned that there are some lessons that can be universal.

Figure 19: Young people gather around the Parks to People engagement table to identify animals at Three Rivers Parks Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Listen First, Find Solutions Second In parks planning, it is crucial to slow down and gather all the information before formulating solutions - but that does not mean it is always easy. It is human nature to brainstorm solutions before understanding the full picture and sometimes the big, flashy ideas sound like the greatest solutions to our problems. The Parks to People Plan engagement process often tried to veer into creating solutions to issues not fully understood. It was difficult to slow down and remind the team to trust the process. What was learned by listening before creating solutions was that many of the flashy early solutions were not exactly what residents were looking for in their communities.

For example, early solutions relied heavily on physical bridging infrastructure investments, but the engagement process revealed that first-ring residents are really looking for personal, face-to-face connections within the parks. Recurring examples across focus groups included: need for a liaison (e.g., a community leader) who would navigate between them and the parks; need for introductory programs and educational lessons to be a part of their outdoor experiences; and need for events or programs that welcome, invite and celebrate both their own and other cultural groups. The infrastructure to support certain activities was not necessarily more or as important compared to the people, relationships, or social components, which is something Three Rivers would not have known if solutions or concepts were proposed first.

Embrance Non-Linear Community Engagement

Project timelines, phases, and tasks are important tools to ensure projects are completed efficiently with clear start and end dates. The Parks to People Plan has revealed a space for

Figure 21: Mother and daughter complete the Parks to People Voting Activity at a Family Day Event co-hosted by Three Rivers Parks and African Career and Education Resources Inc.

overlap between engagement phases. Due to the sheer size of the 11-city service area and the ambiguity around the final bridging facilities recommendations, this project needed flexibility in its approach. The planning team continues to hold exploratory conversations with community partners in areas or communities that have not been reached as well to find opportunities for the voting activity or a conversation. Additionally, this flexible approach has allowed the project to fully embrace feedback as it is shared, such as piloting activities before fully implementing and investing in them. The final engagement phase will take place while compiling analyses and assembling the plan document. However, space has been reserved to allow recommendations to shift based on piloting feedback. Overall, this will positively benefit the public and Three Rivers even if it is not a neat and tidy linear process.

CONCLUSION

Three Rivers cannot realize this plan alone. Bridging facilities, in most cases, will be based on partnerships with cities, agencies, schools, non-profits, existing recreation providers, or community groups. Bridging facilities are not designed for a one-size-fits-all approach, but instead invite creativity and innovation. They seek to build on community strengths, interests, and establishing partnerships with the communities they serve.

A project of this scope, in addition to being the first of its kind and focusing on historically underserved areas, requires an innovative, creative, and community-centered approach. Although the planning team is still learning and gathering best practices, the lessons shared above have expanded our capacity as an organization to empower communities in the planning and visioning of the regional park system. Three Rivers now can bring this experience forward to not only inspire future projects, but also incorporate these lessons into the bridging facility

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Figure 20: Young students gather to complete the Parks to People Voting Activity outside Zanewood Community School during a food distribution event

Implementing and Elevating Sustainability Metrics in Practice Article Written by Jodi Refsland and Tessa Rugg

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Jodi Refsland, PLA, SITES AP, is a landscape architect and Wisconsin Practice Leader at Damon Farber. She brings a multi-disciplinary background in architecture, conservation biology, and ecological restoration which inspires her passion for working at the intersection of design and science. Jodi is equipped with a robust knowledge of sustainable design and is dedicated to creating landscapes that are beautiful, funcitonal, and foster a future of landscape stewardship and resiliency. Her leadership in sustainability at Damon Farber has shaped their ability to gather metrics, influenced design standards, and elevated the conversation in daily practice.

Tessa Rugg is a Design Intern at Damon Farber and is completing a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota (‘23) where she is exploring connections between regulatory environmental policy and successful ecological design. She brings a background in water resources management and has been a leader in Damon Farber’s effort of gathering sustainability metrics. Tessa is currently working on her MLA Capstone project investigating the application and fundamental role of landscape architecture’s sustainability analysis tools in professional design practice.

In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. The report clearly stated that rapid, deep, and immediate mitigation strategies to reduce GHG are necessary from all global sectors. And, to keep us from reaching warming of 2°C in the 21st century, this action is needed by 2030 (See Figures 22 and 23). The built environment accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions, the leading greenhouse gas. (Carbon Leadership Forum). This can be further broken down into (See Figure 24): •

Embodied carbon - emissions from manufacturing of building products, materials, and construction (18% of total emissions, 2019)

•

Operational carbon - emissions from energy use and operation (81% of total emissions, 2019)

Across design and engineering, professions are adopting challenges to reduce carbon emissions via AIA 2030, SE2050, and MEP2040. As landscape architects, the work we do can help our allied professions achieve these goals but lies in an understanding of our own environmental impact. Our landscapes have the power to sequester carbon, retain stormwater, enhance biodiversity, and reduce energy needs. But are they achieving this potential and how can we quantifiably demonstrate the positive impact?

Figure 22: Trends in global GHG emissions by sector show an increase in GHG emissions across all global sectors

BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR METRICS Damon Farber set out to answer these questions with the intent to expand and elevate sustainable design in our work. We wanted to better quantify the environmental performance of designed landscapes, grow our own knowledge base, and develop communication tools to support sustainable decisionmaking. We began with a dedicated task force: our ‘green studio’ team of five employees who would build a framework to tackle these challenges.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND EARLY EVALUATION

Next, we set out to expand our knowledge. We hosted a series of short internal seminars. We shared research, data, and resources on best management practices (BMPs) for topics such as soil volume and tree health, invasive species awareness, sustainable hardwood options, and sustainable urbanism. We developed a robust library of resources to ensure adoption of the most up-todate BMPs. Finally, we assembled a rubric of sustainable design strategies, a checklist that cross-referenced existing sustainable design rating systems. The rubric was comprehensive, including goals with nearly 60 benchmarks across nine categories similar to the structures laid out by LEED and SITES. This initial effort helped quickly expand our team’s knowledge base amidst a fast paced work environment where billable

Figure 23: Observed change in average winter temperature from 1950-2021

Figure 24: Embodied vs. operational carbon

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We began by broadly defining our initiative with guiding principles developed through an office-wide survey to gain consensus. While intuitive, guiding principles are a resource to ground sustainable decision making throughout the design process. Our team identified three guiding principles, each with a subset of strategies and considerations to support implementation (See Figure 25).

Figure 25: Guiding principles are established to support sustainable decision-making and serve as a framwork for evaluating designs

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Figure 26: Four performance goals were established as a first round of metrics and established on criteria we could readily measure and translate to gauge landscape performance

project responsibilities are the focus. While the rubric provided a standard list of sustainable design strategies to utilize, it would not be feasible to gather metrics from all 60 benchmarks. In order to evaluate the performance and impact of our designed landscapes, we needed readily measurable, quantifiable data. As they say, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it” (Drucker). We needed a system that was simple, easy to use, and would seamlessly integrate into the design process

REFINED METRICS

Our team identified four key items present on every project for which we could set goals and readily quantify to gauge sustainable landscape performance. We created a simple calculator to measure basic project data for the following four performance goals (See Image 5). • • • •

Turf Coverage: Limit traditional turf coverage to no more than 25% of softscape area Native Plant Coverage: Provide 75% softscape area planted as native plant coverage Protect Existing Trees: Protect 90% of existing trees and provide no net loss in trees Soil Volume: Provide adequate soil volume for new tree plantings

WELCOME THE CLIMATE POSITIVE DESIGN CHALLENGE

Embedded within each of our four goals was the capacity to reduce a project’s carbon footprint and contribution to global climate change. At the time, quantifying carbon data required

the use of sophisticated software geared towards building assemblies and engineers. When Climate Positive Design (CPD) emerged in 2019 out of an initiative supported by the Landscape Architecture Foundation, it offered our industry its own climate challenge benchmark. By the year 2030, be Climate Positive by designing our projects to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit (Climate Positive Design Challenge). The challenge includes access to the Pathfinder app which is a platform that allows designers to evaluate embodied carbon in site design and effectively make decisions that reduce carbon footprints. Our task force quickly embraced the challenge and began exploring the calculator. Over the course of a summer, we hired a dedicated team member to measure a series of 16 projects using both the DF metrics system and the Pathfinder to inform

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Figure 27: Measuring during design shows progress towards achieving the identified performance goals and helps spatially demonstrate environmental impact

our work. We began by measuring retroactively, looking back at what we considered our highest performing, most sustainable landscapes. While measurement of built work is not the intent of the Pathfinder, we had already begun measurements with our internal system and had readily available data to work with. At the same time, we selected projects in progress and gathered metrics at SD and DD milestones.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

The process of gathering metrics was enlightening. Achieving our established thresholds using native plants, limited turf, tree preservation, and soil volumes was challenging but the benefits of water saving, biodiversity, and canopy coverage were clearly providing measurable positive impact (See Figures 26 and 27).

To meet the Climate Positive Design Challenge, however, we would need to begin reducing embodied carbon dramatically and increasing sequestration potential. Our measured projects ranged from 4 to 300 years to sequester more carbon than they emitted. Parks and open spaces performed better than urban plaza counterparts due largely to amounts of paved surfaces and steel used, despite the extensive plantings that complemented each site.

Streamline the Process

We discovered the process to measure in detail was time consuming and challenging to do without dedicated staff. Many projects do not have the fee to support such an intensive effort but streamlined metrics are possible and can be achieved by:

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Leaning on Companion Software: Use the data you have that is readily available. Schedule data from BIM and smart drafting tools such as Revit and Land F/X allow for easy material takeoffs. If you don’t have that data, pull coarsegrain quantities from Blue Beam, or look to design-phase cost estimate for takeoffs. Adopt a One Hour Measurement Mantra: What can you measure in 1 hour? Use existing calculators (Pathfinder, EPA, and other online calculators) to plug in what you know. When it comes to carbon in MN, we recommend measuring your concrete and asphalt pavements, and steel elements first. A focus on hardscape elements that make up most of your design allows you to get a sense of impact scale. If initial measurements aren’t aligning with project goals, go back to the drawing board. Add more detailed calculations as time allows to get a better picture of sustainable performance. Measure Early and Measure Often: Make it a habit to measure at concept, SD, and DD. In a fast-paced environment with multiple designers and projects, this is the biggest challenge. Identify a responsible party for measuring on every project and track design decisions. Sometimes a simple material change such as switching from an aggregate trail to a concrete path can have significant negative impact a project’s carbon footprint. Can we offset this by planting strategies or leverage this information to advocate for a more sustainable solution?

Start with Embodied Carbon Metrics: Carbon is the life force on earth and the calculator is at your fingertips.

COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN TOOLS

Gathering metrics is one piece of the puzzle to inform change. Communicating metrics in a digestible format to clients, consultants, and team members is critical. What is the tangible meaning of sequestering 150 metric tons of carbon over 50 years or preserving a dozen mature trees? By adding conversion factors into our calculator, we can translate performance data to commonly recognized units such as economic impact or gallons of water, allowing us to create graphically communicable ‘scorecards’ (See Figure 28).

A similar communication strategy was used internally for embodied carbon metrics. We created a series of flashcards to break down units of commonly used materials and provided ‘rule-of-thumb’ metrics for our team to consider as they design. For example, to offset the embodied carbon of every 100sf of low-carbon pedestrian concrete, it would take 1.7 newly planted trees (See Figure 29). Integrating sustainable design standards into QA/QC reviews is a final check on landscape performance and ties back to our office’s early initiative to ensure the use of BMPs. Are we adequately protecting the mature trees we intend to save? Did we perform project metrics? Did we integrate sustainable standards into the project specifications?

Figure 28: Damon Farber scorecard graphics translate metrics into readily digestible, meaningful data as a way to communicate performance to clients and collaborators

Smart Paving: •

•

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS - ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE IN MINNESOTA To achieve sustainable landscape performance, we must analyze our work, hold ourselves accountable, and change the way we design. In Minnesota, our shorter growing season translates to an increased challenge for our landscapes to sequester carbon quickly. For example, coarse-grain measurement on one project revealed that an urban plaza and park would reach carbon positive after an astounding 89 years, attributed largely to concrete paths and access drives despite meeting our internal metrics goals. In a test scenario, the same project located in the southern United States would reach carbon positive in just 22 years. To reduce carbon footprints and improve ecosystem services in our work, there are a few key strategies we can implement: •

Sustainable Planting: • • •

Limit use of traditional turf; explore alternatives such as no-mow, drought and salt tolerant turfs, native seeding, and eliminate areas of “nonfunctional” turf Protect existing trees, plant more, and plant them to last; use BMPs to ensure we retain the benefits of existing trees and are providing newly planted trees with conditions to thrive Use native species: Can you achieve your design intent with a native species instead of nonnatives? MN’s rich palette of native and nativars provides us with selections that withstand tough conditions while supporting biodiversity, habitat, and water quality, without the risk of becoming invasive or requiring chemical inputs

Utilize improved paving technologies and alternative paving: Portland Limestone Cement presents a 10% reduction in embodied carbon, performs well, and is readily available. Regionally sourced aggregates offer lower embodied carbon and can reduce stormwater runoff

Increase Market Demand for Sustainable and Low-Carbon Technologies and Products: •

Figure 29: Easy to use ‘Square Foot Flashcards’ were created to help our design team understand embodied carbon of commonly used materials as they design

Reduce paving extents: how much do we really need? In MN specifically, winter plowing patterns reveal how much hardscape we really use. Can we reduce paved areas and lean on more flexible greenspace to support programming?

Seek out and specify products and integrate sustainable technologies; use biochar in soils, recycled content in furnishings, dark sky lighting, and sustainable hardwoods

Ask for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), an analysis of a product’s life cycle to better inform your metrics and increase demand for transparency and environmentally better products. In the architecture industry, EPDs are commonly available, and the manufacturing of goods contributes significantly to global climate change

When these strategies are followed, we can better support our allied professions to achieve their carbon neutrality and sustainable design goals. This allows the site to be a source of carbon sequestration offsetting the impact of construction and operation while simultaneously treating stormwater, reducing building energy loads and urban heat island effect, and contributing to site character and meaningful user experiences.

NEXT STEPS

Damon Farber’s approach is just one model of how to integrate sustainability metrics into daily practice. Our team will continue to grow our metrics, work towards our established goals, and refine our calculations to gather meaningful metrics to better inform the work we do. We are considering opportunities to automate the process as it is time consuming to gather metrics on every project. By sharing our experience, we hope it motivates other firms to gather data and develop tools and methods for integrating sustainable site performance metrics in daily practice. We hope it encourages others to adopt the Climate Positive Design Challenge. Our goals are to expand the conversation, to improve communication with our clients and collaborators, and connect with others to learn more. We are aware of alternative calculators and others doing this work. How can we better support each other and collaborate for the benefit of the communities within which we live, work, and play?

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