Leading Change in the USA: First Green Street in Maryland is in the Town of Edmonston
Decatur Street in the Town of Edmonston was the first “Green Street” in Maryland. Photo by the Town of Edmonston.
Environmental Initiatives Making Edmonston More Attractive
The Town of Edmonston, MD, a historically working-class town of 1,400 residents, sits on a branch of the Anacostia River in Prince George’s County, just two and a half miles from Washington, DC.
Located in a low-lying area along a river and surrounded by impervious surfaces, Edmonston has been prone to flooding for decades. In one instance in 2006, heavy rains flooded more than 50 homes. Although a massive pumping station alleviated much of the flooding, the Town’s leadership realized that a more holistic approach could prevent such problems from occurring in the future.
First of Its Kind
The result was Edmonston’s Green Street, an environmentally sensitive Complete Street that was the first step towards making Edmonston a more attractive, walkable, and environmentally conscious community. The first street of its kind in the region, the three-quarters-of-a-mile-long street is designed to naturally filter 90 percent of the rain that falls on the street. Designed using Complete Streets principles, the Green Street features widened sidewalks, pedestrian scale streetlamps with LED bulbs, bike lanes, and a connection to an existing hiking/bike trail.
“We are using green technology to attract residents to Edmonston, and also to let people know about Edmonston,” says Vice Mayor Tracy Gant.
The project jump-started an environmental movement in Edmonston. “The Green Street was so positive. Once word got out and the residents understood what was being done, they were on board,” explains Vice Mayor Gant. “Now, they remember the Green Street and want more. That’s why we have the burden of continuing. We need to go further.”
Today, Edmonston is branding itself as a green community to create a more livable place for its residents, as well as to attract new residents. “Edmonston has so much potential to grow. The Green Street attracted a lot of people to Edmonston, but we are going further with solar paneling, community gardening, and we even have an active farm.”
Acknowledgement:
This article was originally posted by Smart Growth America at http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2014/05/02/vice-mayor-gant-environmental-initiatives-making-edmonston-md-more-attractive/