A clinic in Minneapolis: The next set of pictures show the Hennepin County Medical Center clinic in south Minneapolis, an example of good environmental design.

Trees provide shade, reduce wind, and soak up excess water. Gardens provide a similar service, while purifying water, and improving the beauty of the campus.

A warmer, wetter environment is coming — we have no choice but to adapt. In the summer of 2021, Portland, Oregon reached 120 degrees, exceeding the previous record by six degrees. Extreme weather requires us to design our city to be resilient.

‘Ecosystem services’ is a technical way to describe the various good things that nature can give to city spaces.

Let’s brainstorm — what can we do with the Sparrow - Eastfield Block?

IDEA #1 Shaded Outdoor Venues: Create parks and green spaces with ample shading to encourage outdoor activities and gatherings, enhancing community wellness.

IDEA #2 Renewable Energy Solutions: Install solar panels and other renewable energy sources to power street lights and public spaces, contributing to a sustainable urban environment.

Designing spaces for people: Rainwater from the parking lot would nurture the rain garden pictured here. This cleans the water runoff, prevents trash from blowing away, and reduces the chances of an uncontrolled flood.

The birch trees shown here grow at 3 feet per year. The garden and trees pictured here are only about 10 years old.

IDEA #3 Sustainable Runoff Water Treatment: Implement green infrastructure to manage stormwater, reducing flooding risk and promoting groundwater recharge.

IDEA #4 Food Truck and Outdoor Dining Areas: Designate spaces for food trucks and outdoor dining to activate the area during spring and summer, offering diverse culinary experiences. The Mayo Clinic in Florida has a food truck location on its campus. This gets employees active and outside when the weather is nice, reducing stress.

Native plants: Using plants and gardens as a buffer is a simple approach. Native plants are the standard since they help to restore ‘ecological services’ attracting pollinators, birds, while thoroughly soaking in excess rainwater. Native plants are generally easier to maintain.

IDEA #5 Community Gardens and Green Spaces: Develop community gardens to promote local food production, greenery, and biodiversity, fostering a sense of ownership and pride among residents.

A bus stop that respects bus riders: Located at the HCMC clinic in Minneapolis, this bus stop provides a stark contrast to the bus stop in front of PHP (as shown in the ‘problems’ section).

IDEA #6 Pedestrian and Bicycle-Friendly Infrastructure: Improve sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian crossings to encourage walking and cycling, making the area more accessible and reducing vehicle dependency.

A local example: This is the Delta Dental corporate campus in Okemos. Native grasses and flowers help to restore the ecosystem and make for tranquil spaces.

IDEA #7 Public Art and Cultural Installations: Incorporate public art and cultural installations that reflect the neighborhood's history and diversity, creating vibrant, engaging public spaces.

New tree plantings shade sidewalks: Trees also buffer the wind, reducing the chance that garbage would catch an updraft and leave the campus.

Scientists have actually documented tiny pieces of plastic ‘raining’ down on National Parks and other relatively pure environments. Storms can cause plastic bags and other trash to ascend into the upper atmosphere and travel hundreds of miles.

IDEA #8 Community Engagement and Workshops: Organize community workshops and engagement sessions to involve residents in the planning process, ensuring the redevelopment reflects their needs and aspirations.

Standard practice: Using a rain garden to capture runoff is not too expensive. In fact this design approach is becoming a standard, even required by some cities.

Sparrow could

(1) Encourage busing, walking and biking via and incentive program.

(2) Reduce the size of unused parking lots, and

(3) Retrofit to this design standard.

A neighborhood street: This is Jerome Street beyond the bounds of Sparrow. The neighborhood has gardens and many old trees. Houses date to the 1910s, with some recently restored.

IDEA #9 Historic Preservation and Integration: Respect and integrate the area's historic character into the redevelopment plans, preserving architectural heritage while meeting modern needs.

Beautiful spaces inspire people: This is an image only two blocks from Sparrow, taken during a neighborhood organized clean up day.

IDEA #9 Health and Wellness Centers: Establish health and wellness centers that offer community-focused services, including fitness classes, mental health support, and nutritional counseling.

IDEA #10 Innovative Lighting and Security Features: Implement smart lighting and security features to ensure the area is safe and welcoming at all hours, promoting a sense of security for residents and visitors.

Check out this guy who decided to spruce up Lansing! Cleaning up inspires people to match your effort. He became our city council person.