How green is my valley
The Green Space Revolution has begun and with it, the cultivation of parks,
gardens and trails — steps that are improving our quality of life and
transforming our community from lifeless concrete to lush greenery.
The benefits of a greener city go far beyond visual attractiveness.
“Trees and parks are great stress-relievers,” said Kathy Juarez, a native
Fresnan. “I love the fresh air, the shade, and seeing families with all the
space they need to run and play.”
Tree Fresno is one of the groups making our community greener. For the past 20
years, Tree Fresno has demonstrated environmental stewardship, planting and
maintaining more than 29,000 trees and creating trails and green belts.
Many individuals have also made Fresno greener by planting trees for various
causes, all of which help to improve the air we breathe, beautify our region
and reduce energy costs by shading homes and businesses.
Another key benefit of a greener Fresno is the ability to attract a thoughtful,
creative workforce that will improve our economic outlook.
“People care about green space, thriving trees and all the benefits that go with
them, and the City is responding,” said MaryAnne Seay, community services
manager for the City of Fresno. “During the past three years, more than $7
million has been spent rehabilitating existing parks.”
Several new projects are also helping make our region greener.
Central Fresno’s 20-acre Granite Park offers athletic fields, sand volleyball
courts, batting cages and other amenities.
The 110-acre Regional Sports Complex at Jensen and West avenues is home to nine
soccer fields and six softball diamonds, and an adjacent 143 acres is under
development for even more recreational space.
Ground was recently broken for an open-air amphitheater at Eaton Plaza Park at
the base of Fresno’s historic water tower, incorporating green space into the
revitalization of Downtown Fresno.
Other recent efforts include the opening of Clovis’ Brent Willey Memorial Park
and Fresno’s Trolley Creek Park, and the expansion of Clovis Botanical Garden
and Dry Creek Trail. And for the first time in 20 years, the Fresno City
Council approved an increase in park impact fees for the development of new
parks and green space.
“Future progress includes building 200 miles of linear trails and adding 100
park sites,” said Professor Mark J. Keppler, executive director of The Maddy
Institute. According to Keppler, the projected cost for these additions is
approximately $190 million.
Other plans include completing the Valley Nature Education Center near Herndon
and Temperance avenues, and the 23-mile San Joaquin River Parkway. In addition,
the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department recently completed a
10- to 15-year, $240-million plan outlining nearly 30 projects for open-space
development, revenue generation, expansion and renovation of existing parks and
facilities.
While the Green Space Revolution is under way and progress is evident, much work
remains. According to Coke Hallowell, president of the San Joaquin River
Parkway and Conservation Trust, the region still “lacks adequate park space for
recreation and lags far behind State averages.”
“The quality of life will greatly improve as the community adds green spaces,
and hopefully citizens will support those efforts so our communities will grow
beautifully,” Hallowell said.
For more information, visit:
www.treefresno.com
www.riverparkway.org
www.fresno.gov/Parks-Rec
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