FIVE NOTABLE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURES

1. BOSTON'S ROSE KENNEDY GREENWAY

In 1991, after almost a decade of planning,

construction began on the Central Artery/Tunnel
Project, more widely known as the "Big Dig". The
project, recognized as one of the largest, most
complex, and technologically challenging in the
history of the United States, would remove the
elevated highway and create a tunnel system
below the city.

With the elevated highway to be relocated

underground, community and political leaders
seized the opportunity to enhance the city by
creating the Greenway, a linear series of parks and gardens that would re-
connect some of Boston’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods. The creation of the
Greenway was a joint effort of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA), the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, and various civic groups.

On October 4, 2008, tens of thousands of visitors came together for the parks’
Inaugural Celebration with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy. The following
year, on February 23, 2009 the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy assumed
operational responsibility for the parks. Today, the Greenway encompasses gardens,
plazas, and tree-lined promenades and is a key feature of the modern reinvention of
Boston, the Harbor and the Waterfront.

2. CHICAGO'S CITY HALL GREEN ROOFS

Chicago may be known for its skyscrapers, but

it’s also getting a reputation for another type of
infrastructure: green roofs.

It has more than 500 green roofs, covering 5.56

million square feet. They sit atop its City Hall,
Target and Apple stores, even a McDonalds
burger joint. Buoyed by the city’s Green Roof
Grant Program, they have sprung up all across
the city.

Green roofs are covered with vegetation that enable rainfall infiltration and
evapotranspiration of stored water. They are particularly cost-effective in dense urban
areas such as Chicago where land values are high, including on large industrial or
office buildings, where stormwater management costs are likely to be high. Green
roofs also cool down buildings during peak summer months, saving on energy costs.
 3. NEW YORK CITY'S HIGH LINE PARK
Built on an abandoned railroad
spur, New York’s High Line has
become a huge magnet for tourists
and city dwellers alike.
The 1.45-mile-long line is an
elevated linear park, greenway,
and rail trail.
It used to be a former New York
Central Railroad spur on the west
side of Manhattan. Because of
declining use, the freight line was
virtually abandoned in the 1980s.
Repurposing this piece of land
began in 2006, with the first phase
opening in 2009 and the final in 2014. The project has kick-started real estate
development in adjacent neighborhoods and boosted property prices along the
route.
Today, the High Line is a major city attraction.
It features wildflowers, greenery and outdoor art installations in addition to awesome
views of New York’s skyline. Running a span of more than 15 city blocks, it covers the
length from Hudson Yards to the northern edge of Chelsea with several points along
the way to get in and out of the park. Restaurants and cafes have sprung up along
the route to cater to park goers.

4. Mangrove Parks in the cities of

Mandaue and Masbate
Found only in the tropics and
subtropics, a mangrove forest is an
ecological community connecting
freshwater and saltwater
environments. A mangrove forests’
one-of-a-kind ecosystem is home
to an incredible biological diversity.

In the face of climate change, mangroves perform a significant role in shoreline

protection, acting as a buffer against strong winds and waves. Mangrove forests are
also valuable in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as they absorb carbon five times
more effectively than rainforests of the same size.

Two mangrove forest parks are currently being enhanced through Green, Green,
Green Program - one in Mandaue City and another in Masbate City.

In Mandaue City Mangrove Eco-Park, a number of new facilities will be added,

including an assembly area, bamboo boardwalk, and a viewing deck. These features
will allow the park to accommodate more visitors and thus create more opportunities
for people to appreciate the value of the mangroves.
For Phase 2 of the park, with P12 million funding from Green, Green, Green, the
Mandaue City LGU will also build several facilities such as a receiving area, nursery,
aquasilviculture, watchtower, and bird blind.

The park will be open to tourists and more than 300,000 residents of Mandaue City.

Similarly, Masbate City LGU is working on improving and completing their

own mangrovetum using their P9 million funding assistance.

Besides reforestation, their project aims to upgrade pedestrian accessibility by building

a convenient entrance to the boardwalk system as well as a drop-off driveway.

5. Park Redevelopment in
Marikina City

Marikina City identified Park 15

in Barangay Marikina Heights
as an underutilized area with
great potential. Currently an
open field with trees and a
historic grotto, the city will
focus on maximizing the space
by transforming it into a park,
complete with jogging paths,
creekside flower paths, and
bike lanes using eco-friendly
pavements. The grotto will be given a setting worthy of a monument and in future
phases the city aims to invest in an innovative playscape.

Connectivity to the site and within the park are crucial; a bridge, strategic pathways,
and designated pedestrian crossings will allow people to move safely through the
space.
Marikina City is allocated P15 million for this project.