“Bay Guardians

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Project Title:

“Bay Guardians: Coastal Resilience Parks Initiative”

Project Type:

Environmental

Scale:

District

Timeline:

Medium-term (2-3 years)

ISO37101 mapping for ‘Coastal resilience parks for community enhancement.’

Scores

Score	Purpose	Issue	Justification
5	Attractiveness	Culture and community identity	The project enhances the appeal of King’s Landing by creating recreational spaces that reflect and respect local cultural identities. Integrating artistic expressions into park designs promotes public engagement, boosting community pride and fostering a sense of belonging.
5	Preservation and improvement of environment	Biodiversity and ecosystem services	The initiative focuses on ecological restoration, particularly through wetland restoration and native plant integration, which contributes to local biodiversity. These enhancements will improve ecosystem services, provide natural flood protection, and enhance community attractiveness.
5	Resilience	Living and working environment	By addressing flooding and creating green recreational spaces, the project enhances the community’s resilience against climate impacts. The parks will offer safe, accessible areas for residents, thereby improving their living environment while preparing for natural disasters.
4	Responsible resource use	Economy and sustainable production and consumption	The project emphasizes sustainable practices by integrating community engagement and local artisans in park design, promoting local skills and economies. This encourages responsible consumption patterns and supports local businesses through park activities.
5	Social cohesion	Governance, empowerment and engagement	The initiative fosters community participation through advisory boards that represent lower-income neighborhoods. This inclusive decision-making process helps to build social ties, enhances cooperation, and supports diverse community voices in shaping public spaces.
5	Well-being	Health and care in the community	The parks are designed to promote physical and mental well-being by providing green spaces for recreation and community events. This initiative directly addresses community health by emphasizing accessibility and opportunities for engagement in healthier lifestyles.
4	Attractiveness	Mobility	Incorporating paths for walking and biking improves mobility in the area, enhancing accessibility to recreational spaces. This initiative encourages non-motorized transport, contributing to the community’s attractiveness and overall quality of life.
4	Preservation and improvement of environment	Community smart infrastructures	The project builds on existing natural assets and aims to implement smart infrastructure that supports ecological restoration. This includes effective stormwater management and enhancing green spaces, contributing to a well-functioning urban environment.
5	Resilience	Innovation, creativity and research	By engaging local stakeholders in the design, construction, and maintenance of parks, the project encourages innovative solutions that address environmental challenges and enhance community resilience through collaborative efforts.
5	Social cohesion	Living together, interdependence and mutuality	The initiative promotes interaction among community members through shared park activities and events. By building spaces for collective engagement and stewardship, it fosters interdependence and a sense of community belonging.

CONTEXTUAL FOUNDATION

Specific Local Challenge Addressed:

King’s Landing faces significant challenges related to flooding, exacerbated by heavy rains and rising sea levels. The recent neighborhood assessment highlights the need for sustainable solutions to combat these environmental threats which particularly impact lower-income neighborhoods like Flea Bottom. By intertwining ecological restoration with community recreational spaces, the project directly addresses the vulnerability of residents to flooding – providing both protection and much-needed green recreational areas.

Local Assets Leveraged:

The project seeks to capitalize on existing natural assets along Blackwater Bay, including the proximity to wetlands and the coastal environment. By reinforcing local biodiversity, particularly maintaining and enhancing natural barriers such as wetlands and dunes, these coastal resilience parks will build upon King’s Landing’s already rich historical context while introducing sustainable frameworks. Furthermore, collaboration with local artisans for park design can engage the community and utilize the skills already present, making the project feel more organic.

Cultural/Social Fit:

This initiative meshes seamlessly with the values held by King’s Landing residents, who cherish their diverse cultural and historical identities as well as their access to communal spaces. By creating parks that incorporate artistic expressions reflecting the neighborhood’s rich cultural mosaic, the initiative will respect and enhance local traditions while promoting public engagement with natural habitats. This dual focus will encourage community stewardship and cultivate a sense of pride among residents as “Bay Guardians” who protect and celebrate their local environment.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Core Concept:

The “Bay Guardians: Coastal Resilience Parks Initiative” envisions the construction of several coastal parks designed as multi-functional green spaces that provide natural flood protection while also serving as recreational areas for community use. These parks will emphasize the restoration of natural coastal ecosystems, featuring native plants and habitats that serve as effective barriers against flood surges.

Key Components:

Physical/Spatial Elements: The parks will incorporate wetland restoration projects and natural landscaping techniques. Paths for walking, biking, and community gathering areas will be integrated, ensuring accessibility for all demographic groups.
Programming/Activity Elements: An array of community programs will be organized in these spaces, such as educational workshops on coastal ecosystems, environmental clean-up events, and festivals celebrating the region’s cultural heritage.
Community Engagement Element: Outreach efforts will engage residents in the design, construction, and maintenance of these parks. Community advisory boards made up of local stakeholders, especially from lower-income neighborhoods, will help steer the planning and ongoing stewardship of the spaces.

Implementation Approach:

Phase 1: Initiate community engagement sessions to gather input and develop plans for the park locations and features. Begin establishing partnerships with local environmental organizations, schools, and community groups to build awareness and support for the initiative.
Phase 2: Start the physical development of the parks, beginning with wetland restoration and landscaping. Launch educational programming concurrently, enabling residents to start engaging with the park spaces even before completion.
Phase 3: Officially open the parks with a community celebration that showcases the work accomplished and includes cultural performances and informational booths on environmental stewardship. In this phase, establish long-term maintenance and programming strategies in partnership with local organizations to ensure the parks remain vibrant community spaces.

STAKEHOLDER ECOSYSTEM

Champions:

The King’s Landing Environmental Council, local schools (like the North Star Community Center), and neighborhood watches can serve as champions for this project, rallying community support and involvement.

Partners:

Partnerships will be vital; stakeholders will include environmental NGOs, urban planning departments, local educational institutions, and community-based organizations that advocate for low-income residents.

Beneficiaries:

The community at large, including residents of Flea Bottom, will benefit through enhanced flood defense, access to recreational spaces, community involvement in sustainability efforts, and local cultural expressions within park activities.

Potential Opposition:

Some property owners may resist change in the coastal areas due to concerns over property values or land use. Addressing these concerns will involve clear communication of the benefits of increased green spaces not only for flood protection but also for overall community well-being and property value appreciation through improved environmental quality.

FEASIBILITY & IMPACT

Success Indicators:

Quantitative metric: Amount of flooded area reduced in low-income neighborhoods following park establishment measured over time.
Qualitative metric: Resident feedback collected through surveys regarding perceived safety and pride in their neighborhoods.
Community-defined metric: Number of community-led events held in the parks in the first two years post-completion.

Ripple Effects:

This initiative will catalyze further investments in public infrastructure, enhance community social cohesion through mixed-use spaces, and promote environmentally-friendly lifestyles among residents. Over time, it can inspire similar initiatives in other vulnerable areas of King’s Landing.

Risk Mitigation:

The primary risk involves potential funding shortfalls for park development. To mitigate this, the project will seek diverse funding sources, including public grants, private donations, and community fundraisers. Establishing a community contributions program can also help maintain funding through local participation.

LOCAL ADAPTATION NOTES

What makes this project uniquely suited to this place:

This project recognizes King’s unique coastal geography and socio-economic challenges, incorporating local ecological knowledge into adaptive strategies. Its vision is rooted in the city’s historic reliance on its waters while embracing forward-thinking sustainability practices.

How locals would likely describe this project in their own words:

“Finally, we’re taking action to protect our homes from floods, while creating a spot where families can come together for fun, learn about our waters, and celebrate our diverse community all at once. It’s like we’re becoming guardians of the bay!”

This initiative reflects King’s Landing’s collective aspirations for a more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant community, making it feel directly relevant to the lives of the residents.