I was recently developing an interpretation plan for a restored stream running through a highly developed area in a moderate size community. The watershed is mainly strip mall parking lots. The stream had been more of a ditch and was not very attractive. It had been an ignored and litter-filled eyesore that residents looked away from rather than at. Now it has been ‘engineered’ with two contaminant and silt catch basins connected by a meandering route for the steam to follow, then replanted with attractive, pollution-absorbing native plants that will grow into wildlife habitat. Alongside is a new path with boardwalk sites designed to be study areas with long steps/seats leading to the stream bank. This is a useful design, especially with local schools and two colleges nearby.
As part of the planning process I led a stakeholder’s meeting. We walked the trail along the stream and discussed audiences, learning styles, community interest, and ideas and preferences for a variety of media to appeal to the several audiences in the vicinity. In conclusion, I asked the group, How can this trail and creek restoration be important to… four primary areas of interest: students, the environment, the community, and nearby corporations and businesses.
I was surprised at the depth of the responses. I wonder if you are. Have you asked similar questions of stakeholders and received similar responses? Do you regularly go beyond ‘facts’ and ‘things’ to values in your planning process?
One of my favorite definitions of interpretation states that interpretation is about what things mean, how they fit together and why they matter. The responses here get to that last item: why this small place matters, and that’s pretty important.
I’ve listed the responses below, grouping the comments related to each heading by topic. The number of similar comments as grouped by topic indicates a general weight of significance of that topic. When designing exhibits, programs and publications we may give more emphasis to those areas that received the most comments. As you compare comments among the four categories you’ll find overlapping, repeated statements. That’s expected and further reinforces the value/importance of those areas.
Students
An education place
- Opportunity to learn about the natural world
- Place to connect with and be a part of a natural world
- Laboratory for formal and informal learning
- Habitat experience, seeing wildlife firsthand
- Learning function of plant types and how they affect the environment
- Educational opportunities to study water quality, geology, habitat, biology, botany, etc.
- Learning/teaching opportunities
- Educational opportunity
- Outdoor classroom
- Educational, lab classes, engaged learning, connectivity
- Provides opportunity for hands-on learning
- Can view ecosystem of area up close
- Provides field trip opportunities for science, art, engineering, planning
Healthy environment
- Fun place to be living
- Creates healthy environment for them
- Great relaxation area, educational area
- Social interaction
- Physical health
- Spiritual health – meditation
- Fun, running (cross country team)
Lead by example
- Role model for good citizenship
- Opens eyes to new possibilities of environmental responsibility
- Lead by example to influence alternative practices
- The Preserve is a fabulous opportunity to inspire folks of all ages to be more environmentally aware and ecologically responsible through the built structures
- Shows commitment of College/Village/SWN to people and place
The environment
Ecological system
- Ecological system and how it functions as a whole
- Water quality and how this system improves overall quality of water
- How this system affects and functions as an overall system holistically affects waters, habitat, effects ecology affects humans
- “Laboratory” of restoration project
- Improved air quality from trees, sequestered carbon from trees
- Responsible storm water removal and use is extremely important
- Creates places for insects, birds, fishes, and other wildlife to live and breed
Habitat
- Nature planting education
- Habitat opportunities
- Plant life, habitat
- Protection for wildlife
- Habitat for migrating birds
- Sustainable habitat creation as opposed to destruction
- Area to protect native plants, and potential seed source
A responsible example
- Protect, preserve, promote, cultivate, showcase
- Responsible example goes a long way
- Enhances environment
- Beautifies location
The community
Health and recreation
- Healthy environment for community
- Destination for recreation
- Exercise opportunities
- Walking trails
- Provides outdoor space for exercise but also a location to engage in family activities
- Social interaction
- Recreation, quality of life open park,
A place to learn
- Place to learn about and to connect with natural world
- Responsibility to realize they directly affect surroundings positively or negatively
- Free place to entertain children while teaching for low income families
- Has great possibility in attracting geo tourism
- Fabulous to have this spectacular green space in the heart of a city
- LEADERSHIP
Best practices
- Watershed/flood control
- Long-term sustainability
- A great example of responsible building practices
- Provides ecosystem benefits – reduced runoff, clean air
- Sustainable best practices
Point of pride
- Illustrate “progressive” ideas of Conway
- Economic opportunities
- Place-making, not money-making
- Provide a point of pride to show Conway as “green”
- Encourage other to follow suit
Corporate values
An example to follow, a new standard
- Promotes SWN and other companies’ commitment to the environment, wellness benefits for people, and community involvement
- Promote sustainability
- Raises the bar of corporate responsibility
- Great corporate example for all industry/businesses to follow as far as construction and how to manage storm water and how to make the urban environment more friendly to the natural environment
- Educates corporations on how site development can be constructed responsibly
- Provides a visual reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship
Economics
- Retain and attract employees
- Attracts businesses and people
- Economics/economical value
- The environmental tract is another anchor in attracting people to their space, The Village, SWN, the environmental area. It all recruits.
- Green promotion
Aesthetics
- Increases aesthetics for area businesses
- Creates healthy environmental for employees in Conway
- Escape from corporate life to experience an environmental project
- Decreases issues from storm water runoff
Vision
- Shows the vision of some folk in Conway
- Shows a sense of commitment to place and people
