June 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 59

development, said leaders from different disciplines are trying to transform the city in ways never done
before through a $3 billion project
called the BeltLine, the transformation of a circumferential abandoned industrial railroad that served
the city during its manufacturing
days. Originally, the BeltLine was
dreamed up by a Georgia Institute
of Technology student as part of his
thesis, and the concept caught the
attention of planners and decisionmakers. The idea for a city-circling
linear park featuring a hiking/biking trail is now becoming a reality.
Eventually, the BeltLine will provide
a network of public parks, multiuse
trails and transit along a historic 22mile railroad corridor. The 25-year
pursuit is the most comprehensive
transportation and economic development project ever undertaken
in Georgia's capital. It's also an example of how enhancements in the
public realm can cut across sectors
to bring about monetary gain.
Once completed, the project will
add 1,300 acres of green space and 33
miles of trails. Financially, the massive project has created 48,000 construction jobs and 30,000 permanent
jobs and added 5,600 affordable workforce housing units. " It has generated
economic development along housing
and retail corridors, " Shelby says.
Chicago, long known for its outstanding park system, is engaged in
an effort to quantify just how much
of an economic benefit parks supply
to the city. Parks have always been
considered major tourism draws
in Chicago, yet it's not something
on which economic development
and tourism officials have kept tabs.
That will change soon thanks to an
almost-complete analysis of the Chicago Park District's economic contributions. The study could become a
model for the country going forward,

To simply replace [gray
infrastructure] with
more of the same is
far costlier than to
creatively look for
opportunities to put
green infrastructure in
place.
according to Chicago Park District
General Superintendent Mike Kelly.
" We're always clamoring, 'The parks
are important, the parks are important.' The response is, 'Show me the
dollars,' " says Kelly. " I realized that
we needed to really recognize the
parks as an economic driver, which
caused us to do this analysis. "
Chicago Park District also epitomizes what it means to stretch dollars. The park district works with a
$425 million operating budget, 70
percent of which is derived from
a property tax levy. The remaining

$125 million comes from alternative revenue sources. Taxes have
been reduced over the past 12 years,
forcing parks administrators to get
creative. Kelly says Soldier Field
last year was the source of $30 million in revenue for the city, and the
Lollapalooza Music Festival, held
in Grant Park, generates $2.7 million in revenue and brings 270,000
people to the park.
Parks and Green Infrastructure
Cities are not just facing economic
challenges, however. The effects of
climate change, including rising sea
levels, violent storms and rampant
flooding, are also posing intense challenges for cities going forward. One
of the answers to meeting these challenges is a focus on green infrastructure, says Michael Van Valkenburgh,
president and CEO of Michael Van
Valkenburgh Associates.
Existing gray infrastructure is falling
apart across the board in many urban
metropolitan areas. Massive sewer,
water and stormdrain systems are aging and must be replaced, and the costs
will be enormous. To simply replace

Throughout the day, planning and park professionals mixed from table to table to maximize idea sharing to benefit their cities nationwide.

W W W. N R PA . O R G | J U N E 2 0 1 4 |

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