LESSONS FROM GREENING AMERICA’S CAPITALS PROJECT

Download LESSONS FROM GREENING AMERICA’S CAPITALS PROJECT

Greening America’s Capitals helps state capitals develop an implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. EPA provides this design assistance to state capital cities selected through a competitive process, and hires a team of designers to help each city with a particular  design problem. The design team develops a set of options that the cities can pursue. The cities benefit from collaboration among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation  (DOT), and other agencies through the HUD‐DOT‐EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities. This pamphlet describes  five lessons from the first two rounds of projects that can help all communities incorporate green design strategies into  their planning and development. As these capital city projects demonstrate, green, sustainable design can create and enhance interesting, distinctive neighborhoods that have multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits. These  solutions can also help communities improve streets to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians as well as drivers, encourage new economic development, prepare for climate change, build on local history, and crete a sense of place.