Purify B eautify U nify
the People
Indialantic Greenway Concept
Purify
the Water
Beautify
the Land
Unify
Continuing a Tradition
Prepared for: The Town of Indialantic Dr. Jane Tolbert
Prepared by: Hugh McFadden David Burguet Brice Peters Anjani Ganase Ryan Newman Pooja Biswas Lauren Soloman
23 April 2008
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………3 2. INTRODUCTION………………………………….................................................. 4 3. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT…………………………………………………….. 5 3.1. STORM WATER DRAINAGE......................………………………………...…5 3.1.1. IMPACT OF RUN-OFF….……………………………………………… 6 3.1.2. ECOLOGY, ECONOMY & SAFETY…………………………………... 6 3.2. LANDSCAPE……………………………….…………………………………... 7 4. RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………... 8 4.1. POLLUTION MITIGATION - BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION…….…………...8 4.1.1. PLACEMENT OF SYSTEM…………………………………………….. 9 4.1.2. OPTIONS………………………………………………………………… 9 4.2. GREENWAY FEATURES...………………………….………………………..10 4.2.1. OVERVIEW……..………………………………………………………10 4.2.2. GREENWAY ROUTE……...…………………………………….……..10 4.2.3. NEW FEATURES…...……...…………………………………….……..12 4.2.4. ADDED VEGETATION.…...…………………………………….…….13 4.2.5. COMMUNITY GARDEN......…………………………………….…….15 4.2.6. PERMEABLE SURFACES...…………………………………….……..16 4.3. PHASES………………………………………………………………………...17 5. TRADE OFFS……………………………………………………………….……...18 5.1. Costs…………………………………………………………………….……...18 5.1.1. POLLUTION CONTROL………………………………………..……...18 5.1.2. GREENWAY ENHANCEMENTS…..………………………...…..…....19 5.2. BENEFITS……………………………………………………………………..19 5.2.1. POLLUTION CONTROL……………………………………………….19 5.2.2. GREENWAY ADDITIONS……………………………………………..20 5.2.2.1. FINDINGS AND RESULTS………………………………………..21 5.2.2.2. DEALING WITH ISSUES..………………………………….……..21 5.3. OFFSETTING COSTS………...………………………………………………..21 6. CONCLUSION..……………………………………………………………………22
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7:
Filterra© Bio-Filtration System..……………………………………………... 9 Proposed Greenway System Route…………………………………………...11 Proposed Modifications to Wavecrest………………………………………...13 Plants for Filter Strips…………....…………………………………………....13 Recommended Filter Strip Concept….…..…………………………………...15 The Avenues Viera Courtyard…...……………………………………………16 Walkway to Replace with Brick.....…………………………………………...17
3 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The small town of Indialantic, Florida was built upon the businesses on what is now 5th Avenue and its adjacent waterfront areas. This historic district, originally constructed under the vision of creating a commercial and resort area with a beautiful coastal back drop, is a source of town pride and the most significant contributor of commercial revenue. As such, the Boardwalk area and the local waterways, which have made the town an attractive and desirable location, are the centerpiece for our proposal for a greenway in Indialantic. The goal of our approach for the Indialantic greenway system is to create a desirable environment that integrates parks, walkways, clean waterways, courtyards and businesses along 5th Avenue, incorporating methods that promote the health of the local ecosystem for the long term growth and prosperity of the community.
To meet this goal, we investigated greenway concepts and pollution mitigation techniques that have been used and tested in other communities. This provided proven models that could be modified to meet the unique needs and budgetary considerations of the town.
Our recommended plan has two major components: 1) a pollution mitigation measure to preserve and clean the waterways and 2) the development of the greenway that connects the town’s vital throughways, features and businesses. In this proposal we are presenting three separate options for pollution reduction to allow the town to choose the selection that it considers to be the most viable, based on its budget. The second major aspect of the plan uses an appealing greenway to incorporate existing parks, land features and waterways into both new land features and existing businesses around the Boardwalk.
4 2. INTRODUCTION Indialantic is a small beachside community located on a barrier island on the east coast of Florida, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River. Though its borders cover a mere one square mile, the location of the town on the island and the resort feeling that the small comfortable community provides is an excellent foundation on which to develop a more closely knit society of residents with a strong, environmentally friendly commercial center.
Throughout this paper, we will offer suggestions for a proposed Indialantic Greenway that are based on New Urbanism concepts that have been utilized and tested in other communities. The aim New Urbanism is to create mixed-use areas that cater to pedestrian traffic, yet celebrate that local culture.1 Using these cases as a starting point, we have explored how the town’s most significant and vital areas, the ocean, river and space immediately surrounding the 5th Avenue Boardwalk, could be built upon to provide opportunity for the town to expand economically, grow closer socially and take a lead in ecological conservation and innovation.
The specific end goal of our proposed
recommendations is to develop solutions that work toward creating a clean environment that integrates parks, walkways, waterways and businesses along 5th Avenue while incorporating methods that promote the health of the local ecosystem for the long term growth and prosperity of the community.
The proposed Indialantic Greenway will build upon the accomplishments of the commercial and tourism zones that surround Indialantic’s 5th Avenue. The excellent recreation areas already in existence adjacent to 5th Avenue will provide the base for a beautiful and functional greenway. Then, new land features, additional vegetation and remodeled walkways will be integrated into the current framework of businesses and tourism. One of the most important elements of our proposal is the installation of a pollution mitigation system that connects to the current drainage runoff system that flows into the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Given the fact that the foundation of 1
About Congress for the New Urbanism – Who We Are, Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://cnu.org/who_we_are
5 the town’s inception and prosperity are dependant upon its waterways, taking action to preserve them should not be considered an option, but as imperative to the community’s long term success.2 The implementation of these recommendations as a whole will ensure a successful township by creating a stronger sense of community pride, greater advertising potential as a beautiful and ecologically innovative town, increased profits and higher property values. With so much to gain, we consider it worth the financial investment of the town to enact our recommendations.
3. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
3.1 Storm Water Drainage System
Drainage systems are necessary to the infrastructure and safety of any municipality. This need is compounded by Indialantic’s proximity to the ocean as well as low elevation. The National Weather Service reported that annual rainfall in Melbourne averaged approximately 60 inches annually.3 A large percentage of this water is carried by our storm drains to large outlets, which dump their contents directly into the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. This would pose no problem to our community if clean, fresh, rainwater was the only thing carried through these pipes. Unfortunately this is not the case. In fact the City of Melbourne has released information saying that the “first inch of runoff from a storm generally carries 90% of the pollution and causes at least half of water quality problems.”4 Unfortunately our community has responded with apathy or disbelief, and citizens accept the continuing destruction of our waterways as changing times. Times are changing, but we must guide that change toward the preservation and improvement of our community.
2
History of Indialantic, Retrieved February 16, 2008, from http://www.indialantic.com/contents/history/history.htm 3 National Weather Service Melbourne, “Mean Rainfall”, NWS Melbourne, http://ww.srh.noaa.gov/mlb.normals.html 4City of Melbourne, “door hanger”, City of Melbourne Water Management, http://www.melbourneflorida.org/
6 3.1.1 Impact of Run-off - The constituent of this pollution causing the greatest water quality damage exists in the form of chemicals common in fertilizers. The bulk of these are Nitrate, Ammonia, and Phosphorus. These chemicals are helpful to plants, but are toxic to animal life. In fact these are the same basic compounds found in animal urine, called nitrogenous waste. Aquatic marine animals such as fish are extremely sensitive to minute levels of these nitrogenous wastes. The impact of dumping large amounts of these chemicals into our surface waters is widespread, and includes harm to public health, and economic stability.
3.1.2 Ecology, Economy and Safety - The scientific community has published extensively on the effects of nitrogenous waste on aquatic eco-systems. It is this awareness of the dangers of nitrogenous waste that has pushed the development of reliable methods for removal of these toxins from aquatic systems. The most reliable and affordable of these methods is Bio-Filtration. It has been the catalyst allowing scientists and aquariums to research extremely sensitive and endangered organisms that were previously unable thrive in captivity. The Indian River Lagoon is home to a myriad of sensitive and endangered species therefore would be an ideal candidate for Bio-Filtration. Scientists have published recently that dumping nitrogenous waste into waterways leads to serious problems for a community including: •
Noxious and toxic algal blooms5
•
“Red Tide” is one toxic algal bloom causing recent public health concerns
•
Reduced clarity, safety of water for swimmers and boats
•
Loss of habitat 6
•
Loss of Bio-diversity 7
•
Shifts in food webs 8
•
Loss of harvestable fisheries 9
N.N. Rabalais, “Nitrogen in Aquatic Ecosystems” AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 31, No. 2 (2002): 102–112 5-9
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This problem very quickly becomes one that not only concerns environmentalists, but also involves our fishing industry, tourism industry, and even the health of the public. Increased pollution may lead to more frequent or prolonged occurrences of Red Tide such as we experienced last winter. When considering economic damage associated with losing the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) as a fishery, the health problems, and the possibility of losing more tourism revenue the scope of the situation becomes apparent. If we are concerned with the well being of our community we have no choice on whether to address the problem, only how it should be addressed.
3.2 Landscape The beautiful waterfront views and well manicured recreation areas around 5th Avenue make the locale fun and a desirable place to spend time. This is, in large part, due to the town’s tradition of maintaining and beautifying the distinctive natural resources that it possesses. Though enjoyable and attractive, the areas surrounding 5th Avenue do not possess the continuity or convergence of ideas in development that allows for a full capitalization of the natural beauty. Some of these attractive and cared for areas, though enjoyable, feel as if they are disparate, disjointed and not a part of something larger and more significant and connected. Even the recreation spaces that exist within close proximity to one another lack a feeling of full unity. For example, nearby James Nance Park, a popular spot for picnics and playground dates, has neatly arranged a variety of bushes and trees, but the recreation area directly adjacent to it, along the Boardwalk and south of it, lacks this. Though this area is naturally attractive, it does not have an abundance of ordered and attractive shrubbery, nor does it have the appearance of connection and relationship with adjoining Nance Park. The result is a disorganized appearance that does not truly capture the most beauty from the setting. In addition, the empty but improved land parcels along Wavecrest Avenue also inhibit the town from extracting the maximum of physical beauty from the area. This, in turn, does not allow the residents or the town government to benefit from the maximum amount of
8 utility from the space, through enjoyment and profit. The greenway, coupled with a pollution mitigation system, that we will outline in this proposal targets these specific issues, as well as other concerns.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
Our recommendation for the Indialantic Greenway is for a holistic approach that involves the use of green spaces with the addition of a pollution mitigation system. We consider them to be inseparable for implementing a greenway, but for ease of discussion they are broken out into separate segments.
4.1 Pollution Mitigation Through Bio-Filtration
Our recommendation is to use a low-cost biological filtration system to reduce or eliminate the pollution carried through storm drains into local waters. A break down of different recommended options is listed below. In May 2007, the City of Melbourne recorded storm run-off as having concentrations of nitrogenous wastes around 3mg/l. 10 This concentration doesn’t sound threatening; however we must keep in mind that .1mg/l is considered a high level in many marine systems. The idea of containing and utilizing natural biological processes to remove nitrogenous wastes from water is not a new one. The so called “Bio-Filters” have been a staple of filtration in aquariums for years. The key to the success of these systems is their low-cost, simplicity, reliability, and low maintenance. These systems clean the water by providing ideal conditions for certain ambient micro-organisms to multiply. These ambient micro-organisms use toxic nitrogen compounds for energy, stripping them from the water and breaking them apart into harmless elements. These types of systems may be placed without negative effects to the existing infrastructure or the beauty of the water front.
10
The Marker, “Congress hopes to Override Veto of Bill to Help Lagoon,” Fall 2007, Marine Resources Council.
9 4.1.1 Placement of Systems - The 5th Avenue corridor is an ideal candidate for a pilot program of filtration systems. Currently two main drains directly on either side of 5th Avenue empty into the IRL and the Atlantic Ocean. The drains emptying into the IRL are easily accessible and support a large volume of run-off. These drains are fed from a series of street side storm drain inlets which run along both sides of the streets.
4.1.2 Options - Two main methods were considered most prudent when researching options for biological filtration: •
Filtration systems employed at the few drainage outlets
•
Filtration systems employed at the many road inlets
Logistically these are both viable options that can be used in tandem or individually.
The method of filtration taking place at the inlets involves a series of prefabricated units installed at each inlet as shown in Figure 1. The units are installed by the manufacturer, and utilize terrestrial plants and media to filter the water.
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The second option is to provide filtration at the outlets. By filtering the water at the outlets, fewer systems need to be built and installed. The idea is to provide a simple, centralized bio-filter. The centralized technique is currently used for aquariums and aquaculture businesses around the world to filter nitrogenous wastes from large volumes of water. In the case of the 5th Ave outlets, a small PVC support structure approximately 1m³ could be anchored, half submerged next to the outlet. This structure will be lined with 2cm mesh netting, and separated halfway with mesh as to form two mesh sections within the support structure. In the section closest to the drain pipe a media is placed and seeded with the proper micro-organisms. In the section farther from the pipe native aquatic plants are added to absorb any leftover nitrogenous waste.
4.2 Greenway Features
4.2.1 Overview - Several specific actions should be taken to achieve maximum utility from the Indialantic Greenway. We recommend that the implementation of the greenway be carried out in a very specific manner and within precise and carefully selected throughways. One suggestion includes the addition of a significant number of native plants and flowering bushes along Wavecrest Avenue. This should be done in an ordered and purposeful manner that is attractive and provides additional pollution run-off filtration. A relatively small, but highly used portion of the concrete walkways that are directly adjacent to the actual Boardwalk should be replaced by brick pavers. A community garden, resembling an open courtyard, should also be constructed on a currently vacant lot located on the southwestern corner of Wavecrest Avenue and 5th Avenue. These recommendations are all in addition to the storm water runoff control system.
4.2.2 Greenway Route - The throughways that we recommend incorporating into a unified greenway system are: •
Riverside Place (west side of Eastminster Presbyterian)
11 •
5th Avenue
•
Wavecrest Avenue
•
Walkway running through James Nance Park
•
Walkway on Highway A1A, northbound from Nance Park
Figure 2 shows the proposed roads and walkways to be incorporated into the Indialantic Greenway. The parks and recreation areas adjacent to or associated with these throughways should also be included into the greenway system.
12 4.2.3 New Features - This route will connect Indialantic’s valuable waterways, the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, through the heart of the town’s commercial zone, pulling scenic areas and businesses together. To further enhance the consumer appeal of the area and to increase local community interaction, we recommend that several enriching features be incorporated into the specified areas of the Indialantic Greenway.
Figure 3 shows the new enriching features that we recommend incorporating into the greenway project, along with the bio-filtration system, which are: •
Added vegetation along Wavecrest Avenue
•
Community garden, styled as an open courtyard
•
Permeable surfaces such brick pavers for select high traffic walkways
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4.2.4 Added Vegetation - Additional vegetation, in the form of a wide variety of native plants and flowering bushes, should be planted along sections of the west side of Wavecrest Avenue. This should be done in two ways, with of rows of plants along the street itself and in the creation of a community garden. The improved landscape will make the greater Boardwalk commercial and tourism zone a powerfully appealing environment to shop and gather. We recommend using a decorative arrangement of yaupon holly and juniper, both very hardy plants that are native to the region and well
14 suited for the harsh beachfront conditions.11 These plants, shown in Figure 4, will line the west side of Wavecrest Avenue and, in addition to providing an attractive vista, will also provide a filter strip for the storm water run-off that drains onto the west side of the road. Figure 5 shows how the small trees and shrubs will be planted to provide a vegetation buffer – a protective area containing plants and existing between a drainage basin and a place of human activity.12 More specifically, as small land spaces allowing for the filtration of a large variety of pollutants, they act as filter strips. 13 The attractive line of shrubbery would also compliment the larger natural buffer provided by the sea grapes already lining the dunes and the present walkway across Wavecrest Avenue.
11
Black, R. (2003). Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes, Retrieved 3 April, 2008 from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP011 12 The Massachusetts Department for Environmental Health, (2003), The Massachusetts Buffer Manual (Chapter 1). 13 United States Department of Agriculture, (1998), Chesapeake Bay Riparian Handbook (Section 1).
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4.2.5 Community Garden - As part of the proposal, the current vacant lot located on the southwestern corner of Wavecrest Avenue and 5th Avenue would be transformed into an environmentally friendly space for all individuals to enjoy. The space should consist of a lush, colorful garden that would be built to resemble an open courtyard, consisting primarily of local plants, would create a community focal point with significant commercial benefits. Incorporating a garden into a commercial area in order to create a relaxed environment that entices consumers to become long-term complex patrons is not a new idea. In fact, the concept has already been successfully employed by a shopping complex in the nearby town of Viera called The Avenues, as illustrated in Figure 6. What is unique about our recommendation for Indialantic is that it will be executed by the town itself and not by a developer, as The Avenues was, in order to create a central and iconic point for community events and gatherings. This can be accomplished while still providing the beneficial outcome of being a consumer magnet and additional water absorption and filtration space.
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4.2.6 Permeable Surfaces - The addition of this garden area along Wavecrest Avenue into the Indialantic Greenway would radically improve the appearance of the area by creating a visually pleasing continuant of nearby Nance Park and improving the biological filtration capability to remove pollutants caused by the human activity. In order to keep in line with the local tropical design theme of the garden, the hardened surfaces within the courtyard should be made of varying shades of brick pavers. Brick pavers are a long lasting, more attractive alternative to concrete and they compliment the general ambiance of the area well. Pavers are also a permeable surface, meaning that storm water can pass through the surface quickly and reach the soil below, allowing for maximum absorption and natural filtration.14 Because of the immense benefits that brick pavers provide, we also strongly recommend using them to replace the concrete walkway lining the beach’s dunes and the row of parking on the eastern side of Wavecrest Avenue, 14
“Polluted Run-off – Non-Source Point Pollution” (March 2007), www.epa.gov/owow/nps/abc.html (accessed 4 March, 2008).
17 shown in Figure 7. This allows for visual continuity and a connection with the garden across the street. Most importantly, however, because the space is a parking area directly adjacent to the beach, the brick walkway will improve filtration, reducing the amount of pollutant that will run-off in the drainage basin.
4.3 Phases
To ease the cost of the overall project we propose that the city of Indialantic undertake this project in multiple phases. The overall approach to for our assignment of activities to a particular phase is based on the sequential order of activities, immediacy of action, impact to the community and duration of work required. The phases and associated activities that we recommend are as follows:
18
•
Phase 0 – Simple educational campaign sponsored by the city consisting of a town hall meeting and posted information
•
Phase 1 – Begin preparation work for installation of pollution mitigation system, acquire the parcel of land on Wavecrest and 5th Avenues (while the real estate market still provides an advantage to the buyer), obtain a design for the greenway garden and create a layout for the new shrubs lining the west side of Wavecrest
•
Phase 2 – Install pollution mitigation system, plant shrubs and small trees along Wavecrest and prepare cleared land for the garden
•
Phase 3 – Build the garden area, replace the walkway along the beach (between dunes and parking) with permeable, brick pavers, install signs defining and advertising the Indialantic Greenway and adding bronze educational plaques o This phase should be conducted off-season so that it minimizes the impact on traffic and business
5. TRADE OFFS
5.1 Costs
5.1.1 Pollution Control Mechanisms - The costs for the previously discussed bio-filtration systems are difficult to pin down precisely. This is due mainly to uncertainties regarding the actual number of units that would be required for the Drain Inlet program, and the constantly varying cost of materials. Cost is clearly a deciding factor during these difficult economic times, and for this reason the costs are to be described in order from least to greatest cost. Only included are the costs for a pilot program involving the 5th Avenue corridor.
19 Ø Drain Outlet Systems o Cost only includes the materials involved for the construction of two systems. §
Approx. $200 ---- filter media
§
Approx. $300 ---- mesh netting
§
Approx. $300 ---- PVC pipes, cement
§
$200 ---- unforeseen material expenses
§
? ---- Unknown engineering costs
o Total Cost = Approximately $1000 plus unknown costs of researchers and laboratories (possibly contributed by Florida Institute of Technology) Ø Drain Inlet systems o Price depends on number of units purchased and size of unit. §
$9,000 per normal size unit (treats ¼ acre)
§
$20,000 per large unit (treats 1 acre)15
§
Cost of contractor installing each unit
5.1.2 Greenway Enhancements - The costs associated with the construction of the actual greenway are difficult to assess. Certain aspects of the plan, such as the Filterra option for a bio-filtration system come prepackaged, and so can be quantified much easier. Most other parts of the plan will require surveying, selection of material, design specifics and then calculation. For this reason we cannot, and are not qualified to, provide accurate estimates.
5.2 Benefits
5.2.1 Pollution Control Mechanisms - Offering biological treatment to the water entering the IRL will provide many benefits including:
15
These prices are from e-mail correspondence with Kristi Miller Filterra Regional Sales Manager – Southeast.
20
•
Reducing nitrogenous waste and phosphorus. o Discharge was above the legal limit for Melbourne in May and Indialantic in July 200716
•
Improved water clarity
•
Healthier, more stable crabbing ground and fishery
•
Healthier mammalian aquatic life such as dolphins etc.
•
Revival of oyster stocks
•
Reduced chance of prolonged algal blooms such as “Red Tide”
These benefits may seem unrealistic; however, all of these conditions existed before storm drains were so prevalent, carrying the large amounts of polluted run-off. It would be impractical not to mention how intertwined the Indian River Lagoon is with our local economy. The boost of water clarity, as well as the improved seafood populations may breathe much needed stability into the local fishing industry. The improved water clarity and aquatic life will undoubtedly help our embattled tourism industry.
5.2.2 Greenway Additions - There are certainly costs associated with developing a greenway; however, it is a sound investment that will produce tangible returns. Some of the key benefits of having a greenway are:
16
•
Enhances local culture
•
Strengthens community connections
•
Increased property values
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Increased town revenue
•
Increased tourism
•
Increased sales
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Protecting the local waterways
•
Reduces flooding
The Marker, “Congress hopes to Override Veto of Bill to Help Lagoon,” Fall 2007, Marine Resources Council.
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5.2.2.1 Findings and Results - Several communities have found that greenways can actually increase property values, raise tax revenue, and both tourism and sales.17,18 In conducting research for the county’s Greenway Master Plan, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, found that private residences adjacent to greenways had an increased property value of five to twenty percent. The study, prepared for the now 180 miles of greenway that the county has, also found that cities like Orlando projected recouping costs within one year, and that the State of Missouri did recoup all costs within one year based on tourism and business increases.19 It also discovered that greenways can become the center point for activity in the local area.
5.2.2.2 Dealing with the Issues – The major aspects our greenway plan, such as modifications to the selected throughways (shrubs, garden and brick pavers) and the pollution mitigation system, will ensure community enjoyment and economic success, as well as cleansing and preserving the town’s finite natural resources. The county of Brevard itself declares that the Indian River Lagoon, one of only two major waterways for Indialantic, is being threatened by storm water runoff, pollution and other human activities.20 The filtration and absorption provided by the measures that we outlined will deal directly with this problem. It will also benefit the ecological health of Indialantic’s beachfront spaces, the other jewel of the town.
5.3 Offsetting Costs
Several greenway systems have proven to cover the cost of development within one year of the construction. However, grants can be sought to help with initial costs and to guarantee a lesser impact on the town budget. There may be a variety of state, federal 17
Guglielmino, Janine. “Greenways: Paths to the Future” American Forests Magazine Volume 103 (1997: 26. 18 “Economic Impacts of Trails” (March 2007), http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/ GreenwaySumEcon.html (accessed 5 March, 2008). 19 The Mecklenburg County Greenway Master Plan Steering Committee, (1999), Greenway Master Plan (Chapter 1). 20 “Indian River Lagoon Assessment”, www.brevardcounty.us/environmental_management/ irl_assessment.cfm (accessed 7 March, 2008).
22 and private grants that will cover the expenses for certain aspects of the greenway plan that we are proposing. Examples of available grants that we have found are the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, focusing on the planting of native vegetation21, the Surdna Foundation Grant, providing money for work in such relevant areas as Environment and Community Revitalization22, and the 319 Grant Program. The 319 Grant Program funds efforts to curb non-point source (NPS) pollution via various occurrences, storm water run-off23. For additional resources and information, the Office of Greenway Trails has created a list to assisting in finding grants for greenway projects.
6. CONCLUSION
Indialantic is fortunate to have the resources provided by the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Beachfront. There has been considerable effort placed into preserving these areas as of late by creating recreation areas for its residents and visitors. In this tradition, the town should continue to work in this manner to mitigate the pollution created by its development and to create a focal point for the community to exercise, shop, play and gather. The proposed Indialantic Greenway will do just that. Our planned concept will increase the health of the local eco-system for the long term growth and prosperity of the community, while integrating the waterways, businesses, parks and residents of Indialantic. The employment of this concept will create an even more inviting and relaxing atmosphere for all patrons of the area, as well as making Indialantic a pioneer in green technology. This will bring notoriety to the town as a small municipality that is both economically prosperous and ecologically innovative. As the town evolves and grows, it still holds the ability to guide inevitable changes, to preserve and build upon the strong sense of community already embraced by residents.
21
“Find Grant Opportunities”, www07.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp (accessed 11 April, 2008) 22 “Apply for a Grant”, www.surdna.org/grants/grants_list.htm?cat_id=949 (accessed 11 April, 2008) 23 “Non-Point Source Management Program: 319 Grant Program” (March 2008), http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/Section_319_Grant_Program.htm (accessed 10 April, 2008)
Indialantic Greenway Concept
Purify
the Water
Beautify
the Land
Unify
Continuing a Tradition
Prepared for: The Town of Indialantic Dr. Jane Tolbert
Prepared by: Hugh McFadden David Burguet Brice Peters Anjani Ganase Ryan Newman Pooja Biswas Lauren Soloman
23 April 2008
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………3 2. INTRODUCTION………………………………….................................................. 4 3. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT…………………………………………………….. 5 3.1. STORM WATER DRAINAGE......................………………………………...…5 3.1.1. IMPACT OF RUN-OFF….……………………………………………… 6 3.1.2. ECOLOGY, ECONOMY & SAFETY…………………………………... 6 3.2. LANDSCAPE……………………………….…………………………………... 7 4. RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………... 8 4.1. POLLUTION MITIGATION - BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION…….…………...8 4.1.1. PLACEMENT OF SYSTEM…………………………………………….. 9 4.1.2. OPTIONS………………………………………………………………… 9 4.2. GREENWAY FEATURES...………………………….………………………..10 4.2.1. OVERVIEW……..………………………………………………………10 4.2.2. GREENWAY ROUTE……...…………………………………….……..10 4.2.3. NEW FEATURES…...……...…………………………………….……..12 4.2.4. ADDED VEGETATION.…...…………………………………….…….13 4.2.5. COMMUNITY GARDEN......…………………………………….…….15 4.2.6. PERMEABLE SURFACES...…………………………………….……..16 4.3. PHASES………………………………………………………………………...17 5. TRADE OFFS……………………………………………………………….……...18 5.1. Costs…………………………………………………………………….……...18 5.1.1. POLLUTION CONTROL………………………………………..……...18 5.1.2. GREENWAY ENHANCEMENTS…..………………………...…..…....19 5.2. BENEFITS……………………………………………………………………..19 5.2.1. POLLUTION CONTROL……………………………………………….19 5.2.2. GREENWAY ADDITIONS……………………………………………..20 5.2.2.1. FINDINGS AND RESULTS………………………………………..21 5.2.2.2. DEALING WITH ISSUES..………………………………….……..21 5.3. OFFSETTING COSTS………...………………………………………………..21 6. CONCLUSION..……………………………………………………………………22
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7:
Filterra© Bio-Filtration System..……………………………………………... 9 Proposed Greenway System Route…………………………………………...11 Proposed Modifications to Wavecrest………………………………………...13 Plants for Filter Strips…………....…………………………………………....13 Recommended Filter Strip Concept….…..…………………………………...15 The Avenues Viera Courtyard…...……………………………………………16 Walkway to Replace with Brick.....…………………………………………...17
3 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The small town of Indialantic, Florida was built upon the businesses on what is now 5th Avenue and its adjacent waterfront areas. This historic district, originally constructed under the vision of creating a commercial and resort area with a beautiful coastal back drop, is a source of town pride and the most significant contributor of commercial revenue. As such, the Boardwalk area and the local waterways, which have made the town an attractive and desirable location, are the centerpiece for our proposal for a greenway in Indialantic. The goal of our approach for the Indialantic greenway system is to create a desirable environment that integrates parks, walkways, clean waterways, courtyards and businesses along 5th Avenue, incorporating methods that promote the health of the local ecosystem for the long term growth and prosperity of the community.
To meet this goal, we investigated greenway concepts and pollution mitigation techniques that have been used and tested in other communities. This provided proven models that could be modified to meet the unique needs and budgetary considerations of the town.
Our recommended plan has two major components: 1) a pollution mitigation measure to preserve and clean the waterways and 2) the development of the greenway that connects the town’s vital throughways, features and businesses. In this proposal we are presenting three separate options for pollution reduction to allow the town to choose the selection that it considers to be the most viable, based on its budget. The second major aspect of the plan uses an appealing greenway to incorporate existing parks, land features and waterways into both new land features and existing businesses around the Boardwalk.
4 2. INTRODUCTION Indialantic is a small beachside community located on a barrier island on the east coast of Florida, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River. Though its borders cover a mere one square mile, the location of the town on the island and the resort feeling that the small comfortable community provides is an excellent foundation on which to develop a more closely knit society of residents with a strong, environmentally friendly commercial center.
Throughout this paper, we will offer suggestions for a proposed Indialantic Greenway that are based on New Urbanism concepts that have been utilized and tested in other communities. The aim New Urbanism is to create mixed-use areas that cater to pedestrian traffic, yet celebrate that local culture.1 Using these cases as a starting point, we have explored how the town’s most significant and vital areas, the ocean, river and space immediately surrounding the 5th Avenue Boardwalk, could be built upon to provide opportunity for the town to expand economically, grow closer socially and take a lead in ecological conservation and innovation.
The specific end goal of our proposed
recommendations is to develop solutions that work toward creating a clean environment that integrates parks, walkways, waterways and businesses along 5th Avenue while incorporating methods that promote the health of the local ecosystem for the long term growth and prosperity of the community.
The proposed Indialantic Greenway will build upon the accomplishments of the commercial and tourism zones that surround Indialantic’s 5th Avenue. The excellent recreation areas already in existence adjacent to 5th Avenue will provide the base for a beautiful and functional greenway. Then, new land features, additional vegetation and remodeled walkways will be integrated into the current framework of businesses and tourism. One of the most important elements of our proposal is the installation of a pollution mitigation system that connects to the current drainage runoff system that flows into the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Given the fact that the foundation of 1
About Congress for the New Urbanism – Who We Are, Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://cnu.org/who_we_are
5 the town’s inception and prosperity are dependant upon its waterways, taking action to preserve them should not be considered an option, but as imperative to the community’s long term success.2 The implementation of these recommendations as a whole will ensure a successful township by creating a stronger sense of community pride, greater advertising potential as a beautiful and ecologically innovative town, increased profits and higher property values. With so much to gain, we consider it worth the financial investment of the town to enact our recommendations.
3. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
3.1 Storm Water Drainage System
Drainage systems are necessary to the infrastructure and safety of any municipality. This need is compounded by Indialantic’s proximity to the ocean as well as low elevation. The National Weather Service reported that annual rainfall in Melbourne averaged approximately 60 inches annually.3 A large percentage of this water is carried by our storm drains to large outlets, which dump their contents directly into the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. This would pose no problem to our community if clean, fresh, rainwater was the only thing carried through these pipes. Unfortunately this is not the case. In fact the City of Melbourne has released information saying that the “first inch of runoff from a storm generally carries 90% of the pollution and causes at least half of water quality problems.”4 Unfortunately our community has responded with apathy or disbelief, and citizens accept the continuing destruction of our waterways as changing times. Times are changing, but we must guide that change toward the preservation and improvement of our community.
2
History of Indialantic, Retrieved February 16, 2008, from http://www.indialantic.com/contents/history/history.htm 3 National Weather Service Melbourne, “Mean Rainfall”, NWS Melbourne, http://ww.srh.noaa.gov/mlb.normals.html 4City of Melbourne, “door hanger”, City of Melbourne Water Management, http://www.melbourneflorida.org/
6 3.1.1 Impact of Run-off - The constituent of this pollution causing the greatest water quality damage exists in the form of chemicals common in fertilizers. The bulk of these are Nitrate, Ammonia, and Phosphorus. These chemicals are helpful to plants, but are toxic to animal life. In fact these are the same basic compounds found in animal urine, called nitrogenous waste. Aquatic marine animals such as fish are extremely sensitive to minute levels of these nitrogenous wastes. The impact of dumping large amounts of these chemicals into our surface waters is widespread, and includes harm to public health, and economic stability.
3.1.2 Ecology, Economy and Safety - The scientific community has published extensively on the effects of nitrogenous waste on aquatic eco-systems. It is this awareness of the dangers of nitrogenous waste that has pushed the development of reliable methods for removal of these toxins from aquatic systems. The most reliable and affordable of these methods is Bio-Filtration. It has been the catalyst allowing scientists and aquariums to research extremely sensitive and endangered organisms that were previously unable thrive in captivity. The Indian River Lagoon is home to a myriad of sensitive and endangered species therefore would be an ideal candidate for Bio-Filtration. Scientists have published recently that dumping nitrogenous waste into waterways leads to serious problems for a community including: •
Noxious and toxic algal blooms5
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“Red Tide” is one toxic algal bloom causing recent public health concerns
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Reduced clarity, safety of water for swimmers and boats
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Loss of habitat 6
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Loss of Bio-diversity 7
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Shifts in food webs 8
•
Loss of harvestable fisheries 9
N.N. Rabalais, “Nitrogen in Aquatic Ecosystems” AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 31, No. 2 (2002): 102–112 5-9
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This problem very quickly becomes one that not only concerns environmentalists, but also involves our fishing industry, tourism industry, and even the health of the public. Increased pollution may lead to more frequent or prolonged occurrences of Red Tide such as we experienced last winter. When considering economic damage associated with losing the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) as a fishery, the health problems, and the possibility of losing more tourism revenue the scope of the situation becomes apparent. If we are concerned with the well being of our community we have no choice on whether to address the problem, only how it should be addressed.
3.2 Landscape The beautiful waterfront views and well manicured recreation areas around 5th Avenue make the locale fun and a desirable place to spend time. This is, in large part, due to the town’s tradition of maintaining and beautifying the distinctive natural resources that it possesses. Though enjoyable and attractive, the areas surrounding 5th Avenue do not possess the continuity or convergence of ideas in development that allows for a full capitalization of the natural beauty. Some of these attractive and cared for areas, though enjoyable, feel as if they are disparate, disjointed and not a part of something larger and more significant and connected. Even the recreation spaces that exist within close proximity to one another lack a feeling of full unity. For example, nearby James Nance Park, a popular spot for picnics and playground dates, has neatly arranged a variety of bushes and trees, but the recreation area directly adjacent to it, along the Boardwalk and south of it, lacks this. Though this area is naturally attractive, it does not have an abundance of ordered and attractive shrubbery, nor does it have the appearance of connection and relationship with adjoining Nance Park. The result is a disorganized appearance that does not truly capture the most beauty from the setting. In addition, the empty but improved land parcels along Wavecrest Avenue also inhibit the town from extracting the maximum of physical beauty from the area. This, in turn, does not allow the residents or the town government to benefit from the maximum amount of
8 utility from the space, through enjoyment and profit. The greenway, coupled with a pollution mitigation system, that we will outline in this proposal targets these specific issues, as well as other concerns.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
Our recommendation for the Indialantic Greenway is for a holistic approach that involves the use of green spaces with the addition of a pollution mitigation system. We consider them to be inseparable for implementing a greenway, but for ease of discussion they are broken out into separate segments.
4.1 Pollution Mitigation Through Bio-Filtration
Our recommendation is to use a low-cost biological filtration system to reduce or eliminate the pollution carried through storm drains into local waters. A break down of different recommended options is listed below. In May 2007, the City of Melbourne recorded storm run-off as having concentrations of nitrogenous wastes around 3mg/l. 10 This concentration doesn’t sound threatening; however we must keep in mind that .1mg/l is considered a high level in many marine systems. The idea of containing and utilizing natural biological processes to remove nitrogenous wastes from water is not a new one. The so called “Bio-Filters” have been a staple of filtration in aquariums for years. The key to the success of these systems is their low-cost, simplicity, reliability, and low maintenance. These systems clean the water by providing ideal conditions for certain ambient micro-organisms to multiply. These ambient micro-organisms use toxic nitrogen compounds for energy, stripping them from the water and breaking them apart into harmless elements. These types of systems may be placed without negative effects to the existing infrastructure or the beauty of the water front.
10
The Marker, “Congress hopes to Override Veto of Bill to Help Lagoon,” Fall 2007, Marine Resources Council.
9 4.1.1 Placement of Systems - The 5th Avenue corridor is an ideal candidate for a pilot program of filtration systems. Currently two main drains directly on either side of 5th Avenue empty into the IRL and the Atlantic Ocean. The drains emptying into the IRL are easily accessible and support a large volume of run-off. These drains are fed from a series of street side storm drain inlets which run along both sides of the streets.
4.1.2 Options - Two main methods were considered most prudent when researching options for biological filtration: •
Filtration systems employed at the few drainage outlets
•
Filtration systems employed at the many road inlets
Logistically these are both viable options that can be used in tandem or individually.
The method of filtration taking place at the inlets involves a series of prefabricated units installed at each inlet as shown in Figure 1. The units are installed by the manufacturer, and utilize terrestrial plants and media to filter the water.
10
The second option is to provide filtration at the outlets. By filtering the water at the outlets, fewer systems need to be built and installed. The idea is to provide a simple, centralized bio-filter. The centralized technique is currently used for aquariums and aquaculture businesses around the world to filter nitrogenous wastes from large volumes of water. In the case of the 5th Ave outlets, a small PVC support structure approximately 1m³ could be anchored, half submerged next to the outlet. This structure will be lined with 2cm mesh netting, and separated halfway with mesh as to form two mesh sections within the support structure. In the section closest to the drain pipe a media is placed and seeded with the proper micro-organisms. In the section farther from the pipe native aquatic plants are added to absorb any leftover nitrogenous waste.
4.2 Greenway Features
4.2.1 Overview - Several specific actions should be taken to achieve maximum utility from the Indialantic Greenway. We recommend that the implementation of the greenway be carried out in a very specific manner and within precise and carefully selected throughways. One suggestion includes the addition of a significant number of native plants and flowering bushes along Wavecrest Avenue. This should be done in an ordered and purposeful manner that is attractive and provides additional pollution run-off filtration. A relatively small, but highly used portion of the concrete walkways that are directly adjacent to the actual Boardwalk should be replaced by brick pavers. A community garden, resembling an open courtyard, should also be constructed on a currently vacant lot located on the southwestern corner of Wavecrest Avenue and 5th Avenue. These recommendations are all in addition to the storm water runoff control system.
4.2.2 Greenway Route - The throughways that we recommend incorporating into a unified greenway system are: •
Riverside Place (west side of Eastminster Presbyterian)
11 •
5th Avenue
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Wavecrest Avenue
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Walkway running through James Nance Park
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Walkway on Highway A1A, northbound from Nance Park
Figure 2 shows the proposed roads and walkways to be incorporated into the Indialantic Greenway. The parks and recreation areas adjacent to or associated with these throughways should also be included into the greenway system.
12 4.2.3 New Features - This route will connect Indialantic’s valuable waterways, the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, through the heart of the town’s commercial zone, pulling scenic areas and businesses together. To further enhance the consumer appeal of the area and to increase local community interaction, we recommend that several enriching features be incorporated into the specified areas of the Indialantic Greenway.
Figure 3 shows the new enriching features that we recommend incorporating into the greenway project, along with the bio-filtration system, which are: •
Added vegetation along Wavecrest Avenue
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Community garden, styled as an open courtyard
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Permeable surfaces such brick pavers for select high traffic walkways
13
4.2.4 Added Vegetation - Additional vegetation, in the form of a wide variety of native plants and flowering bushes, should be planted along sections of the west side of Wavecrest Avenue. This should be done in two ways, with of rows of plants along the street itself and in the creation of a community garden. The improved landscape will make the greater Boardwalk commercial and tourism zone a powerfully appealing environment to shop and gather. We recommend using a decorative arrangement of yaupon holly and juniper, both very hardy plants that are native to the region and well
14 suited for the harsh beachfront conditions.11 These plants, shown in Figure 4, will line the west side of Wavecrest Avenue and, in addition to providing an attractive vista, will also provide a filter strip for the storm water run-off that drains onto the west side of the road. Figure 5 shows how the small trees and shrubs will be planted to provide a vegetation buffer – a protective area containing plants and existing between a drainage basin and a place of human activity.12 More specifically, as small land spaces allowing for the filtration of a large variety of pollutants, they act as filter strips. 13 The attractive line of shrubbery would also compliment the larger natural buffer provided by the sea grapes already lining the dunes and the present walkway across Wavecrest Avenue.
11
Black, R. (2003). Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes, Retrieved 3 April, 2008 from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP011 12 The Massachusetts Department for Environmental Health, (2003), The Massachusetts Buffer Manual (Chapter 1). 13 United States Department of Agriculture, (1998), Chesapeake Bay Riparian Handbook (Section 1).
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4.2.5 Community Garden - As part of the proposal, the current vacant lot located on the southwestern corner of Wavecrest Avenue and 5th Avenue would be transformed into an environmentally friendly space for all individuals to enjoy. The space should consist of a lush, colorful garden that would be built to resemble an open courtyard, consisting primarily of local plants, would create a community focal point with significant commercial benefits. Incorporating a garden into a commercial area in order to create a relaxed environment that entices consumers to become long-term complex patrons is not a new idea. In fact, the concept has already been successfully employed by a shopping complex in the nearby town of Viera called The Avenues, as illustrated in Figure 6. What is unique about our recommendation for Indialantic is that it will be executed by the town itself and not by a developer, as The Avenues was, in order to create a central and iconic point for community events and gatherings. This can be accomplished while still providing the beneficial outcome of being a consumer magnet and additional water absorption and filtration space.
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4.2.6 Permeable Surfaces - The addition of this garden area along Wavecrest Avenue into the Indialantic Greenway would radically improve the appearance of the area by creating a visually pleasing continuant of nearby Nance Park and improving the biological filtration capability to remove pollutants caused by the human activity. In order to keep in line with the local tropical design theme of the garden, the hardened surfaces within the courtyard should be made of varying shades of brick pavers. Brick pavers are a long lasting, more attractive alternative to concrete and they compliment the general ambiance of the area well. Pavers are also a permeable surface, meaning that storm water can pass through the surface quickly and reach the soil below, allowing for maximum absorption and natural filtration.14 Because of the immense benefits that brick pavers provide, we also strongly recommend using them to replace the concrete walkway lining the beach’s dunes and the row of parking on the eastern side of Wavecrest Avenue, 14
“Polluted Run-off – Non-Source Point Pollution” (March 2007), www.epa.gov/owow/nps/abc.html (accessed 4 March, 2008).
17 shown in Figure 7. This allows for visual continuity and a connection with the garden across the street. Most importantly, however, because the space is a parking area directly adjacent to the beach, the brick walkway will improve filtration, reducing the amount of pollutant that will run-off in the drainage basin.
4.3 Phases
To ease the cost of the overall project we propose that the city of Indialantic undertake this project in multiple phases. The overall approach to for our assignment of activities to a particular phase is based on the sequential order of activities, immediacy of action, impact to the community and duration of work required. The phases and associated activities that we recommend are as follows:
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Phase 0 – Simple educational campaign sponsored by the city consisting of a town hall meeting and posted information
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Phase 1 – Begin preparation work for installation of pollution mitigation system, acquire the parcel of land on Wavecrest and 5th Avenues (while the real estate market still provides an advantage to the buyer), obtain a design for the greenway garden and create a layout for the new shrubs lining the west side of Wavecrest
•
Phase 2 – Install pollution mitigation system, plant shrubs and small trees along Wavecrest and prepare cleared land for the garden
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Phase 3 – Build the garden area, replace the walkway along the beach (between dunes and parking) with permeable, brick pavers, install signs defining and advertising the Indialantic Greenway and adding bronze educational plaques o This phase should be conducted off-season so that it minimizes the impact on traffic and business
5. TRADE OFFS
5.1 Costs
5.1.1 Pollution Control Mechanisms - The costs for the previously discussed bio-filtration systems are difficult to pin down precisely. This is due mainly to uncertainties regarding the actual number of units that would be required for the Drain Inlet program, and the constantly varying cost of materials. Cost is clearly a deciding factor during these difficult economic times, and for this reason the costs are to be described in order from least to greatest cost. Only included are the costs for a pilot program involving the 5th Avenue corridor.
19 Ø Drain Outlet Systems o Cost only includes the materials involved for the construction of two systems. §
Approx. $200 ---- filter media
§
Approx. $300 ---- mesh netting
§
Approx. $300 ---- PVC pipes, cement
§
$200 ---- unforeseen material expenses
§
? ---- Unknown engineering costs
o Total Cost = Approximately $1000 plus unknown costs of researchers and laboratories (possibly contributed by Florida Institute of Technology) Ø Drain Inlet systems o Price depends on number of units purchased and size of unit. §
$9,000 per normal size unit (treats ¼ acre)
§
$20,000 per large unit (treats 1 acre)15
§
Cost of contractor installing each unit
5.1.2 Greenway Enhancements - The costs associated with the construction of the actual greenway are difficult to assess. Certain aspects of the plan, such as the Filterra option for a bio-filtration system come prepackaged, and so can be quantified much easier. Most other parts of the plan will require surveying, selection of material, design specifics and then calculation. For this reason we cannot, and are not qualified to, provide accurate estimates.
5.2 Benefits
5.2.1 Pollution Control Mechanisms - Offering biological treatment to the water entering the IRL will provide many benefits including:
15
These prices are from e-mail correspondence with Kristi Miller Filterra Regional Sales Manager – Southeast.
20
•
Reducing nitrogenous waste and phosphorus. o Discharge was above the legal limit for Melbourne in May and Indialantic in July 200716
•
Improved water clarity
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Healthier, more stable crabbing ground and fishery
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Healthier mammalian aquatic life such as dolphins etc.
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Revival of oyster stocks
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Reduced chance of prolonged algal blooms such as “Red Tide”
These benefits may seem unrealistic; however, all of these conditions existed before storm drains were so prevalent, carrying the large amounts of polluted run-off. It would be impractical not to mention how intertwined the Indian River Lagoon is with our local economy. The boost of water clarity, as well as the improved seafood populations may breathe much needed stability into the local fishing industry. The improved water clarity and aquatic life will undoubtedly help our embattled tourism industry.
5.2.2 Greenway Additions - There are certainly costs associated with developing a greenway; however, it is a sound investment that will produce tangible returns. Some of the key benefits of having a greenway are:
16
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Enhances local culture
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Strengthens community connections
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Increased property values
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Increased town revenue
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Increased tourism
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Increased sales
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Protecting the local waterways
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Reduces flooding
The Marker, “Congress hopes to Override Veto of Bill to Help Lagoon,” Fall 2007, Marine Resources Council.
21
5.2.2.1 Findings and Results - Several communities have found that greenways can actually increase property values, raise tax revenue, and both tourism and sales.17,18 In conducting research for the county’s Greenway Master Plan, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, found that private residences adjacent to greenways had an increased property value of five to twenty percent. The study, prepared for the now 180 miles of greenway that the county has, also found that cities like Orlando projected recouping costs within one year, and that the State of Missouri did recoup all costs within one year based on tourism and business increases.19 It also discovered that greenways can become the center point for activity in the local area.
5.2.2.2 Dealing with the Issues – The major aspects our greenway plan, such as modifications to the selected throughways (shrubs, garden and brick pavers) and the pollution mitigation system, will ensure community enjoyment and economic success, as well as cleansing and preserving the town’s finite natural resources. The county of Brevard itself declares that the Indian River Lagoon, one of only two major waterways for Indialantic, is being threatened by storm water runoff, pollution and other human activities.20 The filtration and absorption provided by the measures that we outlined will deal directly with this problem. It will also benefit the ecological health of Indialantic’s beachfront spaces, the other jewel of the town.
5.3 Offsetting Costs
Several greenway systems have proven to cover the cost of development within one year of the construction. However, grants can be sought to help with initial costs and to guarantee a lesser impact on the town budget. There may be a variety of state, federal 17
Guglielmino, Janine. “Greenways: Paths to the Future” American Forests Magazine Volume 103 (1997: 26. 18 “Economic Impacts of Trails” (March 2007), http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/ GreenwaySumEcon.html (accessed 5 March, 2008). 19 The Mecklenburg County Greenway Master Plan Steering Committee, (1999), Greenway Master Plan (Chapter 1). 20 “Indian River Lagoon Assessment”, www.brevardcounty.us/environmental_management/ irl_assessment.cfm (accessed 7 March, 2008).
22 and private grants that will cover the expenses for certain aspects of the greenway plan that we are proposing. Examples of available grants that we have found are the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, focusing on the planting of native vegetation21, the Surdna Foundation Grant, providing money for work in such relevant areas as Environment and Community Revitalization22, and the 319 Grant Program. The 319 Grant Program funds efforts to curb non-point source (NPS) pollution via various occurrences, storm water run-off23. For additional resources and information, the Office of Greenway Trails has created a list to assisting in finding grants for greenway projects.
6. CONCLUSION
Indialantic is fortunate to have the resources provided by the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Beachfront. There has been considerable effort placed into preserving these areas as of late by creating recreation areas for its residents and visitors. In this tradition, the town should continue to work in this manner to mitigate the pollution created by its development and to create a focal point for the community to exercise, shop, play and gather. The proposed Indialantic Greenway will do just that. Our planned concept will increase the health of the local eco-system for the long term growth and prosperity of the community, while integrating the waterways, businesses, parks and residents of Indialantic. The employment of this concept will create an even more inviting and relaxing atmosphere for all patrons of the area, as well as making Indialantic a pioneer in green technology. This will bring notoriety to the town as a small municipality that is both economically prosperous and ecologically innovative. As the town evolves and grows, it still holds the ability to guide inevitable changes, to preserve and build upon the strong sense of community already embraced by residents.
21
“Find Grant Opportunities”, www07.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp (accessed 11 April, 2008) 22 “Apply for a Grant”, www.surdna.org/grants/grants_list.htm?cat_id=949 (accessed 11 April, 2008) 23 “Non-Point Source Management Program: 319 Grant Program” (March 2008), http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/Section_319_Grant_Program.htm (accessed 10 April, 2008)
