Provides Economic Benefits Green infrastructure can be installed to earn stormwater utility credits in stormwater fee areas, and the parks could receive funds from such programs. Parks with green infrastructure might be able to apply for maintenance funding or have their best management practices (BMPs) maintained by an outside party, depending on the type of BMPs and the types of approaches taken by the local municipality. Where rainwater harvesting has been incorporated, captured water can be used for irrigation or other graywater uses, reducing costs associated with potable or recycled water use. Upgraded stormwater management systems could also reduce maintenance costs or reduce capital costs to upgrade essential stormwater management infrastructure. Destination parks could also stimulate community-level investments due to the desirability of being near the park. Improves Drainage Permeable pavement, soil amendments, enhanced infiltration, and underground stormwater storage systems can be used to mitigate drainage problems or nuisance flooding in parking areas, walkways, and playing fields. Urban soils are often compacted and hard to maintain. Improving the drainage of turf fields can result in fewer field closures after rain storms and reduce the need for seasonal turf maintenance, re-tilling, and aeration. Addressing issues of standing water on pavement or in lowlying areas improves public safety and helps to eliminate mosquito breeding habitat. Helps to Educate the Public Placing signs where green infrastructure is used raises public awareness of the importance and type of measures that reduce stormwater pollution. Green infrastructure at parks can demonstrate features easily transferrable to homes and businesses. Green infrastructure demonstrations and signage can help the local municipality meet stormwater program requirements for public education. Maintenance of green infrastructure can also help create green jobs and educate the new green work force. Improves Water Quality Stormwater volume and pollutant reductions can be achieved with green infrastructure to help local municipalities meet regulatory requirements. Park spaces offer a wealth of pervious surface that can be used to absorb rainwater and runoff from adjacent developed landscapes that currently drain directly to piped collection systems. Benefits the Overall Environment Green infrastructure can be used to reduce urban heat island impacts by incorporating vegetation, especially trees, where pavement or conventional turf landscapes existed before. Vegetated green infrastructure can also sequester carbon via CO2 uptake during photosynthesis, which traps carbon in the biomass and helps reduce greenhouse gases. Green infrastructure planted with native and locally adapted plants can attract beneficial wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. 3
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