Georgian Dr creek park erosion control – project review

More information about the January 2023 design decisions for the creek park erosion control project
More information about the July 2020 park land acquisition and Parks and Rec department commitments

Project review highlights

• The grant period (January 2023 – January 2024) included exceptional weather events (Jan/Feb ice storm, Jul/Aug/Sep 100+ temps) as well as extended drought, challenging growing conditions even for native plants. City infrastructure repairs and storm cleanup resulted in damage to terracing that volunteers had installed with City approval.
• During the grant period there were 35+ days with a neighborhood team volunteer presence at the site for at least an hour. This program design provided many casual opportunities for stakeholder conversation, without the organizational overhead or any perceived participation barriers of a called meeting or special event. It also allowed for extension of Equity GAP‘s relationship-building and qualitative information-gathering methodologies from Georgian and Powell.
• DSD/Code did not receive any complaints about maintenance at the site during the grant period. However, Parks and Rec continues to resist providing a trash can, so it seems unlikely this will be sustained after the grant.
• The planting area was close-mowed by Parks and Rec staff and by a well-intended neighbor, resulting that some seeded areas were disturbed and that some annual plants were not able to reseed themselves. Parks and Rec appear to have updated their mowing map to include a ten-foot buffer along the sidewalk, as required by DSD/Code, and otherwise to follow Watershed Protection and Wildflower Center limited mowing recommendations.
• Funder staff turnover resulted in a significant increase in administrative hours for neighborhood team volunteers, to re-review the project design and to adjust to changes in funder policies.

From our 2010 neighborhood plan and 2016 neighborhood plan amendments
Objective Q.D16: The benefit of knowing one’s neighbors shall not be overlooked.
Objective Q.D18: 100% of residents, businesses, property owners, and institutions are aware of the neighborhood plan and the neighborhood plan contact team, and how to contact it.
Objective Q.D20: An interwoven network of formal and informal neighborhood groups which assures that all stakeholders are connected with people and organizations in their immediate vicinity, and as well with those similar to them but located in other parts of the planning areas.
Recommendation D151: All parks and waterways have at least one adopt-a-park or adopt-a-creek organization.
Recommendation D152: Formal groups support and respect informal project teams or interest groups.

Objective Q.2: Ensure public safety throughout the planning areas.
Objective Q.D44: Develop outcome goals and measures for observed issues at bus stops, sidewalks, parks, libraries which reduce the sense of safety.

Objective Q.D62: Homeless and transient individuals in the planning areas are safe and are able to meet their basic human needs.
Recommendation D253: Develop requirements for sanitation (trash removal, access to fresh water, disposal of human and pet waste) on private properties where owners permit camping.
Recommendation D254: In the absence of significant crime issues, removal of encampments from private or public property should be handled as a relocation, including advance notice to residents and referrals to resources for moving belongings, temporarily boarding pets, and opportunities for more standard housing.

Objective Q.6: Improve property maintenance within North Lamar/Georgian Acres.
Objective Q.7: Government departments and planning area stakeholders should focus particular attention on vacant lots and buildings as they can be used to harbor criminal activities, or pose a danger to children who may be tempted to explore them, and pose a fire hazard to the neighborhood.
Recommendation D153: Zones in need of focused government and community intervention within the planning areas preferably be identified by the community itself. Property owners should be encouraged and supported in bringing these properties into positive condition, in order to continue to benefit economically from the neighborhood’s own improvement activities.
Recommendation D157: A city enforcement department regularly monitors these vacant properties for issues such as trash, high grass, or camping without permission. Issues are addressed promptly by staff in absence of owner action.
Recommendation D161: All properties, including vacant lots, must be visibly addressed in accordance with 911 requirements to support timely law enforcement and emergency response.
Recommendation D266: Develop written agreements with [list public entities] for mowing public land, balancing safety, aesthetic desires of immediate neighbors, and habitat for native wildlife.