MetroGreen A proposed 1,440 mile interconnected system of public and private open space, greenways and trails

MetroGreen Designed to link to seven counties in the Kansas City metropolitan region

Plan History Original plan by George Kessler Designed in 1894 Studied with Fredrick Law Olmsted System of parks and boulevards “City Beautiful” movement

MetroGreen Vision Plan revised in 1991 ASLA Prairie Gateway Chapter Enlarged Kessler’s concepts System of trails, open space and parklands

MetroGreen 2001 MARC expanded the plan Greenways, trails and open space Environmental stewardship Urban growth management Future development strategy

Kansas Johnson County Leavenworth County Wyandotte County Missouri Cass County Clay County Jackson County Platte County Regional System

Simple Concept “Hubs and Spokes” system Hubs of community destination points Spokes of stream corridors, abandoned rails and landscaped parkways Farmland Workplace or Center City Residential Neighborhood Hub: Metro Park Hub: City Park Hub: County Or State Park Shopping Center School Sensitive Habitat Spoke: Landscaped Roadway Spoke: Rail-Trail Spoke: River/Stream Corridor

Multi-Dimensional Benefits Water Quality and Environmental Education Transportation Economic Health, Safety and Welfare

Transportation Benefits Environmentally friendly transportation choices Unique experiences not possible by automobile Alternative for commuting to the places we live work and play

Transportation Benefits Local Example –Indian Creek Greenway provides connectivity among neighborhoods, Cooperate Woods Business Park, shopping centers and public parks

Health Benefits Recreational Opportunities –Encourage physical activity –Mental relaxation –Connect people to nature

Safety and Welfare Benefits Safe off-street access to places Increase the visibility in an area (proven method to prevent crime and increase public security)

Water Quality Benefits Prevent flood damage –Prevent development in floodplains –Maintain infiltration capacity of the soil –Maintain overbank storage –Maintain roughness

Water Quality Benefits Maintain/improve water quality –Remove pollutants in urban stormwater –Reduce sediment entering the stream –Maintain baseflow in streams –Provide tree canopy to shade streams and promote desirable aquatic organisms

Water Quality Benefits Provide Streambank Stability –Prevent erosion by maintaining vegetative cover and root systems –Maintain natural hydrology –Allow for natural channel migration –Reduce municipal costs for maintenance and repairs

Water Quality Benefits Provide Habitats –Maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the water resources –Contribute the organic matter that is a source of food and energy for the aquatic ecosystem –Provide corridors for wildlife

Environmental Educational Benefits Outdoor classrooms Stream Teams Individual discovery

Economic Benefits Business development –Attracting an innovative, highly educated work force to our region –Compete with other urban communities who have an extensive trail system used by residents and visitors

Economic Benefits Lower costs for stormwater management –Combined public utility with public recreation and transportation amenity –Increased awareness of the importance of our river levee system

Economic Benefits Increased property value –$10,000 or more in Virginia (Tippett et al., 1999) –Values of homes increase as far as 3 blocks from the greenway (Vince Graham, ION Development) –Property values are 32% higher for locations adjacent to a greenbelt buffer in Boulder, CO. (Correll et al., 1978)

Economic Benefits Increased Tourism –Creating tourism attractions like Missouri’s Katy Trail –Cost $6 million to construct the 200-mile trail –Generated over $6 million of travel and tourism expenditures in first full-year of operation

Identify priority corridors –Natural resource value –Public support Outline action steps Conserve natural areas Sustain progress of plan Preserving Corridors

Current System 85 corridors 308 trail miles 100,000 acres protected stream corridors

Questions?