October 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 90

Park Bench

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILDLANDS ENGINEERING INC..

Simple and Invaluable Public Engagement

88

Nearly 10 years ago, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services reached out to Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
to ask if the department was interested in partnering on one of the largest urban stream restoration projects in the state of North
Carolina. Reedy Creek was heavily impacted by past farming practices and stormwater runoff from nearby development and no
longer supported healthy communities of native fishes and aquatic insects. The goal was to preserve, enhance and restore more than
40,000 feet (7.5 miles) of the stream and to use a science-based approach to document the recovery of the creek.
The project would take place in the 1,000-acre Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve (tinyurl.com/vqpuhef), one of 27 nature
preserve properties included in the Mecklenburg County park system. The park and nature preserve prioritizes the conservation
and protection of natural resources, rare species and unusual habitats while promoting passive recreation opportunities. Despite the
demonstrated need to restore the stream, there were concerns about performing this massive construction project within the nature
preserve. It would result in the removal of many large trees, displacement of woodland bird species, impact on amphibians and
reptiles, and the closure of the heavily used nature trail system for almost two years.
To proactively address these concerns, the project team directed considerable resources toward public outreach and education
to help the general public, park staff, elected officials and others understand why the project was needed, what to expect during
construction and what the stream would look like once it was restored. Initial meetings with a citizen advisory board to the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission, known as the Stewardship Advisory Council, focused on building support for
the project. Next, the Park and Recreation Commission heard presentations from city staff, park staff and the consulting team and
approved the project. The focus then shifted to educating the general public about the project. A newspaper article was published,
the city attended the park's Hummingbird Festival, the team mailed a postcard to residents, and signage explaining the project goals
and duration were posted at trail heads more than a year in advance of construction. Another round of outreach to all audiences
occurred before construction started, and Storm Water Services even did an interview with local news. Wildlands Engineering
Inc., the design consultant, created an interactive project website (reedycreekrestoration.com) to provide maps, pictures, updates
and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as a link to the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation website (mecknc.gov/
ParkandRec). As a result, the project was completed with almost no negative press or public concern. In fact, many park patrons are
amazed by how great the stream looks and how quickly the vegetation has started to recover.
As part of post-construction monitoring, the nature center at Reedy Creek installed phone frame stations so park visitors can help
document the recovery of the restored stream via a social media-based citizen science project. Engaging the public in a way that
allows them to share their observations of new grasses, growing trees, and bird and wildlife sightings creates a connection to Reedy
Creek and nature. We can't think of a better way to connect our community to our natural resources and local parks.
- Erin Shanaberger, PWS, Watershed Planning and Project Implementation Supervisor for the city of Charlotte
Parks & Recreation

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October 2020 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2020 - Parks & Recreation

October 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 1
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