PLANTING VISION AND GOALS

VISION: Promote the green in greenway. Create a greenway environment where users can experience the region’s natural features throughout the system.

GOALS:

SHOWCASE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

  • Preservation of natural habitats
  • Restoration of native ecosystem
    • Plant communities endemic to the greenway corridor
    • Control/ removal of invasive species
  • Creation of habitat
    • Large canopy trees are critical
    • Development or Restoration of edges/ transitional spaces
    • Contiguous natural areas – strive for large, uninterrupted spaces
  • Use native and naturalized plant materials
  • Promote a diverse plant palette
 CREATE A SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION

  • Installation of high quality plant material
  • Successful installation with high survivability of installed plant material
  • Seamless transition from contractor to maintenance partner for ongoing establishment and maintenance
  • Limit substitutions
 DESIGN A LANDSCAPE THAT IS MAINTAINABLE

  • Plant with a purpose
    • Consider visibility and level of care
    • Consider the ecosystem services of planting (Provide shade, create habitat, reduce or treat stormwater, wayfinding and identity, restore ecological function, stabilize soils)
  • Consider maintenance
    • Limit need for mowing
    • Landscape consistent with Partner’s committed capabilities. Experience should not be a limitation – GRG as educator
    • Establishment of native landscapes should be considered part of installation.
    • All designs to include maintenance plan

The targets below are to serve as a guide in the development of the greenway landscape. Targets are aspirational, and should be seen as system-wide. On each typical project, designers should work to meet these targets. However, some projects may exceed targets while others may be below – but this should be based on project specific constraints.

PLANTING TARGETS:

CANOPY COVER AND SHADE
GOAL METRIC
Survivability of installed canopy and understory trees 90% survivability through establishment (3 years or more).
Trail surface canopy cover Minimum of 30% canopy/understory tree or other shade cover over trail surface is the desired goal to be achieved within ten years of installation.
Shade at seating areas Provide shade at all seating areas; provide options for artificial shade in areas that do not allow for tree planting such as levees. Consider shade provided by buildings in urban areas.

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND TURF
GOAL METRIC
Species Diversity Minimum of 20 species of combined canopy and understory trees to be used per trail segment implementation.
Invasive Removal 75% of invasives to be removed in greenway corridor prior to trail installation.
Native Plant Percentage Use of 90% native plant species or native cultivars to be used in the greenway corridor (100’ wide).