In coordination with the Speedwell Foundation and Georgia Tech, the Houston Parks Board has assisted in the development of the Houston Redfields to Greenfields report and video. Houston is part of this national study, one of eleven cities, exploring the opportunities to convert Redfields into interconnected green spaces (Greenfields) and parks with restored use of some of the Redfeld properties.
A “Redfield” property can be physically or financially distressed, or both, and has negative value -- civically, environmentally, and economically. Redfields can also be brownfields -- sites impacted by the environmental concerns, such as asbestos containing materials, underground storage tanks, or contaminated soil or water.
There are two significant opportunities identified as part of the Redfields to Greenfields
conversion. The first is to add equitably distributed parks throughout the greater Houston
area by converting distressed properties. The second is to complete varying widths of
continuous greenways along Houston's major bayous. The Redfields to Greenfields efforts coordinates well with the Houston Bayou Greenways program, which
involves numerous private and public partners with the goal of creating an interconnected
system of parks and trails along the city’s major waterways. Nearly one half of the proposed
Redfields to Greenfields acres are also along these bayous and offer the perfect
opportunity for collaboration between the two projects. Converting Redfields to Greenfields will add nearly 5,000 acres of green space, greatly improve the health and economy
of the city and help reduce the risk of flooding.
For more information on the Redfields to Greenfields project, please visit their website at: http://rftgf.org/joomla/
Watch Houston Redfields to Greenfields Video:
View Houston Chronicle Article |
