Green spaces are of critical importance to the health and well-being of human communities. In the urban environment, they also provide an essential refuge for wildlife. Nature is everywhere!

Migratory and local birds need places to rest, pollinators need places of refuge as they do their work supporting the growth of all plants, butterflies need safe havens on their journeys, and so on. These creatures cannot survive in spaces made of concrete and glass; small patches of trees and natural growth are life-sustaining.

The trees and vegetation serve another important role in metering and cleaning up the flow of water. As rain falls and washes through city streets, if uninterrupted it can overwhelm storm drains, flood streets, and flow directly, unfiltered, into the Bay. By pausing in the roots of grass and trees, some of the runoff pollutants are absorbed and converted into harmless natural substances. This process pauses the pace of the flowing water as well and goes a long way to preventing and mitigating flooding of city streets. The design of this green space includes specific nature-based stormwater treatment, assisting the natural work of rooted vegetation and soil in being more efficient at cleaning up runoff. This not only waters the green space here, it also protects the Bay!

This expanded green space and urban agriculture project specifically includes birdhouses and apiaries (places for bees to make honey), providing additional support for the essential natural processes they serve and helping the birds and the bees survive and thrive.

Patch networks of green spaces have been demonstrated to be critical for the survival and health of ecosystems. We share our cities with nature, and nature shares its many benefits with humans.