►
From YouTube: Green Infrastructure - 10/21/22
Description
Mayor Michelle Wu announces a new city policy to expand the implementation of green infrastructure installations in Boston. The Mayor made the announcement in East Boston's innovative new Central Square, with Boston's Director of Green Infrastructure, Kate England, as well as local representatives.
A
All
right
good
morning,
everyone
and
thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
this
morning.
My
name
is
Kate
England
and
I.
Am
the
director
of
green
infrastructure
for
the
city
of
Boston?
I,
really
appreciate
you
taking
the
time
to
join
us
on
our
little
green
infrastructure,
walking
tour
of
beautiful
Central
Square
here
in
East
Boston.
This
site
is
very
near
and
dear
to
my
heart,
countless
hours
of
my
time
and
the
time
of
so
many
others
went
into
making
this
project
a
reality.
A
B
Thanks
Kate,
we
are
so
so
privileged
to
be
able
to
have
you
leading
these
efforts
from
within
our
team
and
I.
Just
want
to
thank
everyone.
Who's
been
involved
in
this
I
know.
It
took
a
leap
of
faith
several
years
ago
and
this
major
reconstruction
project
that
has
been
able
to
not
only
create
immediate
benefits
for
the
community,
but
also
help
us
learn
about
what
works
and
how
we
keep
expanding.
B
It
has
been
so
valuable
in
many
many
ways,
so
I'm
joined
here
today
by
colleagues
in
city,
government,
colleagues
in
elected
office
and
Community
leaders,
who
are
pushing
us
to
move
faster
every
day
for
Boston
to
really
be
a
green
New,
Deal,
City,
green
and
growing,
and
a
city
for
everyone.
So
you'll
hear
shortly
from
I'm,
going
to
pass
it
right
after
I'm
done.
B
So
this
is
one
of
Boston's.
First
ever
green
infrastructure,
pilots
and
we're
thrilled
that
it
is
already
reaping
so
many
benefits
for
community
members.
As
Kate
pointed
out
during
our
walk
around,
there
are
many
many
different
strategies
and
tools
and
ways
that
we're
already
learning
from
the
choices
that
were
made
here
and
the
ways
that
we
can
keep
this
going.
The
design
elements
prioritize
safety
for
pedestrians
and
all
users
of
this
square
and
area,
as
well
as
climate
resilience,
from
the
curb
extensions
that
encourage
safer
traffic
patterns
with
vehicular
traffic
to
the
larger
Park
area.
B
That
leaves
more
green
space
for
everyone
just
to
sit
and
reflect
and
take
up,
take
it
take
in
the
the
neighborhood.
This
is
what
we
need,
especially
in
our
environmental
justice
communities.
All
these
features
were
designed
in
collaboration
with
our
residents,
and
so
I
want
to
thank
so
many
Community
leaders,
especially
our
young
people,
for
showing
up
contributing
your
ideas
and
showing
the
kind
of
leadership
that
we
all
are
needing
to
see
across
every
neighborhood.
B
B
For
some
of
the
various
porous
Paving
installations
and
Landscape
features
that
we
see
highlighted
here
and
third,
it
will
set
up
a
volunteer
program
that
invites
our
communities
and
helps
make
sure
we're
all
in
this,
together
with
the
city,
taking
accountability
as
well
to
help
keep
our
green
spaces
clean
and
beautiful.
Together.
These
elements
will
improve
Community
safety,
Foster
Community
engagement
and
boost
our
climate
resilience.
B
The
curb
extensions
that
you
see
at
different
corners
and
and
all
the
way
around
the
park
and
bump
outs,
like
the
ones
in
this
Square
reduce
the
distance
that
pedestrians
have
to
cross
the
street
and
the
time
that
it
takes
that's
been
a
particularly
important
for
our
seniors
and
for
families
with
young
children.
We
know
that
making
the
streets
safer
for
pedestrians
makes
it
go
smoother
and
and
safer
for
everyone.
B
These
Design
Elements
also
encourage
drivers
to
slow
down
as
they
approach
the
turns
that
increasing
the
likelihood
that
drivers
and
pedestrians
will
see
each
other
and
make
eye
contact
and
decreasing
the
risk
of
serious
injury
from
collisions
and
and
crashes.
So
I
want
to
be
clear
that
this
doesn't
mean
that
we're
going
to
be
pouring
concrete,
even
if
it
is
porous
all
over
every
every
part
of
our
streets
and
neighborhoods.
B
We
will
require
that
curb
extensions
incorporate
one
of
the
five
green
infrastructure
design
Alternatives,
so
whether
that's
a
green
space
like
a
rain
Garden
or
a
tree
pit
or
porous
Paving
materials.
We
are
committed
to
not
only
making
our
streets
safer,
but
Greener
and
more
resilient
and
for
the
volunteer
program,
we'll
be
creating
opportunities
for
community
members
to
adopt
a
specific
green
infrastructure
feature
in
the
city
and
keep
it
free
from
leaves
and
litter.
And
again.
This
is
the
city
is
still
maintaining
the
responsibility
and
accountability
for
cleanliness
and
safety
across
all
our
neighborhoods.
B
B
This
program
will
be
a
great
way
for
anyone
who
wants
to
give
back
to
our
communities
to
have
a
sense
of
Pride
and
ownership
in
your
block
and
your
your
your
neighborhood
park,
it
will
also
serve
as
an
opportunity
for
residents
to
learn
more
about
what
goes
into
maintaining
all
these
spaces
and
give
us
that
feedback,
as
we
figure
out
how
to
incorporate
these
in
projects
all
across
the
city.
To
that
end,
the
city
of
Boston
will
be
hosting
training.
B
B
B
B
C
Good
morning,
everyone
or
afternoon
I'm
not
really
sure
what
time
it
is
anymore,
but
welcome
to
East
Boston.
It's
a
neighborhood
I
happen
to
live
in
and
I'm
honored
to
represent
I
am
very
excited
about
what
what
this
announcement
is
for,
not
just
the
city
of
Boston
but
for
the
region
that
I
also
represent.
You
know
when
you
think
of
a
Greener
future
and
a
green
New
Deal.
It
needs
to
have
certain
components.
C
One
of
the
major
components
is,
it
needs
to
be
replicable,
and
what
we
just
heard
from
the
mayor
is
that
there
this
is
setting
a
blueprint
to
do
throughout
all
of
Boston
and
I
think
actually
Beyond,
Boston
and
other
neighborhoods.
That
I
represent
such
as
Winthrop
and
Revere.
I.
Think
another
component
is,
it
needs
to
be
sustainable,
not
just
financially,
but
that
you
know
what
we
saw
is
that
the
rain
water
is
going
to
be
part
of
not
only
getting
the
water
out
of
our
streets,
but
also
feeding
and
nourishing
the
trees.
C
C
Thank
the
mayor
for
fulfilling
her
promise
continually
when
it
talks
when
she
talked
about
doing
this
and
bringing
about
a
green
new
deal
and
I'm
especially
excited
that
she
started
a
lot
of
that
infrastructure
here
in
East
Boston.
So
I
want
to
thank
her
entire
team.
So
many
people
who
are
you
know
I,
don't
want
to
mess
up
and
not
name
the
correct
people,
but
I
also
want
to
acknowledge
a
former
East
Boston
resident,
who
also
helped
with
the
design
and
traffic.
C
D
Good
afternoon
everyone,
my
name,
is
Adrian
madrow,
proud
to
be
the
State
Rep
here
in
East,
Boston
and
I
actually
grew
up.
Just
a
few
blocks
up
the
hill
here,
I
remember.
Well
what
Central
Square
used
to
look
like,
certainly
didn't,
have
as
much
green
and
trees.
It
was
quite
dangerous
for
pedestrians,
dangerous
for
cars,
kind
of
a
chaotic
situation
with
traffic,
and
this
has
really
helped
transform
the
square.
D
But
what
I
did
forget
about
the
rehab
of
the
square
was
all
the
incredible
details
of
green
infrastructure,
so
I
just
asked
you
want
to
join
me
in
a
round
of
applause
for
Kate
England,
because
I
feel
like
I,
went
to
I
went
to
school
today
and
I
learned
a
lot
and
it
was
really
cool
to
get
such
a
in-depth,
deep
understanding
of
just
what's
happening
here
and
I.
Do
think
it's
fitting
that
the
city
used
Central,
Square
and
East
Boston
to
Pilot
the
screen
infrastructure.
We
are
an
environmental
justice
Community.
D
We
do
have
one
of
the
lowest
tree
canopies
in
the
city
of
Boston.
So
when
you
hear
things
as
Kate
was
explaining,
like
the
underground
Wells,
that
nourished
our
trees,
this
alley
or
allay
of
trees
and
how
much
larger
they
are
in
relation
to
the
trees
in
the
park,
it's
critical
for
East
Boston
for
a
community
that
suffers
disproportionately
from
air
pollution
and
other
other
environmental
impacts.
D
Yes,
we're
highlighting
green
infrastructure
Pilots
here,
but
this
is
just
the
beginning
and
I
think
the
announcement
of
this
new
green
infrastructure
policy
really
marks
an
exciting
moment
for
Boston's
history,
because
while
these
were
pilots,
this
is
what
we
can
start
to
expect
from
here
on
out
in
East,
Boston
and
across
the
city,
and
that
that
will
just
be
an
enormous
benefit
to
our
residents
here
in
the
city.
So
thank
you
to
the
mayor
and
her
team
and
without
further
Ado,
we'll
turn
it
over
to
the
chief
of
streets,
Yasha,
Franklin,
Hodge,.
E
Thank
you,
representative
and
I
want
to
just
start
by
thanking
the
mayor
for
her
leadership
on
this
initiative
and
so
much
more
when
it
comes
to
the
sustainability
and
of
our
city
and
and
the
things
that
we
can
do
in
our
streets.
Kid
England,
as
others
have
mentioned,
is
instrumental
in
building
this
policy
and
bringing
all
of
this
new
work
to
light
and
many
other
departments.
E
So
the
the
people
of
the
streets
cabinet
that
I
lead,
who
were
involved
in
designing
over
many
years,
this
project
here
in
Central
Square,
who
helped
to
keep
it
maintained
and
in
good
condition,
and
then
the
many
other
departments
that
were
involved
that
are
involved
in
what
we
have
today
and
what
we're
going
to
build
in
the
future.
Boston
Water
and
Sewer
the
environment
Department
New,
Urban
mechanics.
This
has
truly
been
a
cross-departmental
team
effort
both
to
build
some
of
the
things
that
we
see
today,
as
well
as
what's
planned
in
the
future.
E
So
the
implementation
of
these
new
design
standards
reinforces
that
our
streets
are
spaces
for
everyone.
As
we
work
to
make
streets
safer
by
reducing
speeding
and
improving
Crossings
for
pedestrians,
we
can
also
add
more
green
spaces
to
our
neighborhoods.
We
can
beautify
places
that
were
previously
concrete
and
asphalt
and
help
make
Boston
a
more
resilient
City
traffic.
Calming
measures
like
curb
extensions
and
bump
outs,
are
key
to
reducing,
speeding
and
preventing
injuries
and
deaths
on
our
roadways.
E
When
we
can
slow
down
cars
we
improve
and
when
we
improve
sight
lines
for
drivers
and
pedestrians,
we're
reducing
the
distance
that
people
need
to
cross
the
street.
This
is
what
keeps
our
streets
safe.
This
is
what
helps
people
feel
comfortable
as
they
move
about
our
city
and
know
that
they
can
do
so
without
fear
of
injury.
So,
today,
in
Central
Square,
you
know
we're
seeing
a
place
that
underwent
improvements
that
were
designed
to
both
create
safer,
a
safer,
more
functional
traffic
pattern
to
improve
pedestrian
access
into
the
park.
E
We
reclaimed
much
of
the
pavement
for
pedestrians.
The
places
that
we're
all
standing
now
was
was
Road
prior
to
this
project,
and
we've
allowed
for
many
of
those
safety
benefits
to
be
felt
by
all.
Both
people
who
are
coming
here
to
use
this
park
and
people
who
are
passing
through
here
on
their
way
somewhere,
but
these
improvements
weren't
only
for
Traffic
Safety.
This
Square
this
park
in
here
in
Central
Square,
contains
11
storm
water
management
features
like
porous,
paving
materials
tree
trenches.
E
These
are
projects
that
demonstrate
what's
possible
in
dense
Urban
environments,
as
we
seek
to
prevent
flooding
to
keep
pollutants
out
of
our
waterways
and
just
to
enhance
the
quality
of
the
public
space
that
we
enjoy
so
using
the
new
design
standards
that
we're
announcing
here
today.
Every
future
project,
big
and
small,
creates
an
opportunity
to
improve
to
implement
green
infrastructure
elements
on
our
city
streets.
E
This
investment
will
create
spaces
that
better
serve
neighborhoods
with
new
trees,
vegetated
Landscapes
storm
water
management
and
flooding
prevention
in
the
streets
cabinet.
We
are
committed
to
improving
the
quality
of
life
for
residents
in
Boston
with
safer
streets,
but
we're
equally
committed
to
creating
to
thought
being
thoughtful
about
how
we
create
spaces
that
not
only
establish
better
experiences
for
pedestrians
and
cyclists,
but
also
address
other
pressing
needs
in
our
community
like
creating
shade
like
managing
storm
water
and
addressing
and
mitigating
some
of
the
impacts
we
are
seeing
and
will
continue
to
see
from
climate
change.
E
Boston
has
800
miles
of
streets
and
sidewalks.
They
are
our
largest
public
space
and
they
can
do
a
lot
more
than
just
move
people
from
A
to
B.
As
we
make
our
streets
safer,
we'll
also
make
them
Greener.
We
will
make
them
more
comfortable,
we'll
make
them
more
inviting
and
we
will
make
them
more
sustainable.
E
A
Hello
everyone
once
again,
my
name
is
Kate
England
and
I'm,
the
inaugural
green
infrastructure,
director
for
the
city
of
Boston.
My
role
exists,
because
our
mayor
believed
that
it
was
essential
to
have
people
whose
primary
focus
was
climate
resilience
and
thinking
about
how
we
can
make
small
changes
to
the
everyday
activities
in
our
city
to
make
our
city
more
resilient.
A
So,
for
those
of
you
who
are
here
today
and
watching
at
home,
you've
probably
been
hearing
the
words
green
infrastructure
more
and
more
often
over
the
last
few
months,
or
at
least
I
hope
you
have
been,
and
so
you
may
be
wondering
what
is
green
infrastructure.
What
what
are
green
infrastructure
features
so
fundamentally
green
infrastructure
features
our
storm
water
management
features
that
mimic
nature
they
use
plants
and
soil
and
other
materials
to
help
sort
storm
water
to
just
absorb
back
into
the
ground.
A
So
they
also
have
other
benefits.
Storm
water
benefits
like
they
help
to
reduce
localized
flooding
and
they
help
to
improve
water
quality,
but
they
have
benefits
that
go
beyond
storm
water.
They
also
allow
us
to
build
green
spaces
back
into
our
cities.
They
frequently
have
trees
in
them,
so
they
allow
us
to
increase
our
Urban
Tree
canopy
and
reduce
Urban
heat
island
effect.
They
also
have
a
lot
of
physical
and
psychological
health
benefits.
They
improve
air
quality
because
of
all
the
vegetation
and
they
allow
Urban
dwellers
access
to
Green,
Space
and
densely
developed
cities.
A
So,
with
all
of
these
benefits
in
mind,
we
are
so
thrilled
to
be
announcing
the
city's
first
green
infrastructure
policy,
which
will
require
the
implementation
or
incorporation
of
green
infrastructure
into
City
projects
that
have
Curb
extensions
and
bump
outs.
So
you've
already
heard
from
everyone
before
me
about
the
value
of
curb
extensions
and
how
they're
used
they
are
used
for
slowing
down
traffic
for
shortening
pedestrian,
Crossings
and
generally
increasing
safety.
A
But
currently
we
typically
take
that
space
within
the
bumped
out
curb
and
we
pave
it
with
concrete
or
asphalt
or
pavers,
and
the
intent
of
this
policy
is
to
expand
green
infrastructure
implementation
throughout
the
City
by
allowing
our
designers
and
project
managers
and
Engineers
to
choose
from
one
of
five
green
infrastructure
design
Alternatives
when
they're
doing
their
designs.
The
policy,
as
the
mayor
mentioned,
has
three
primary
components.
The
first
is
those
five
design
Alternatives,
which
I'll
talk
about
in
just
a
second.
A
The
second
is
that
there
will
be
two
green
infrastructure
maintenance
contracts
that
will
be
available
to
perform
maintenance
on
public
green
infrastructure
features,
and
the
third
is
the
volunteer
program
which
we
obviously
are
all
very
excited
about,
so
going
to
quickly
describe
the
five
design
alternatives
for
those
of
you
who
walked
around
the
park.
Apologies.
A
Some
of
this
will
be
repetitive,
but
the
first
to
design
alternative
is
right-of-way
bioretention
and
what
that
means
is
that
we
are
going
to
be
able
to
install
Rain,
Gardens
and
bioswales
into
that
area
within
the
bumped
out,
curbs
so
using
vegetation
and
plants
to
help
bring
in
storm
water
and
and
remove
pollutants
and
allow
it
to
absorb
back
into
the
ground.
The
second
design
alternative
are
infiltrating
tree
trenches
or
tree
pits.
If
you
look
around
you
in
Central
Square,
we
are
surrounded
by
tree
trenches.
A
A
The
third
design
alternative
is
porous,
paving
materials
that
could
be
porous,
asphalts,
permeable
pavers,
which
are
pavers
that
are
themselves
porous
or
porous
paver
installations,
which
are
solid,
pavers
that
are
installed
with
gaps
in
between
them,
so
storm
water
can
get
back
into
the
ground
in
between
those
gaps
or
Porous.
Concrete
and
again,
you
can
see
all
of
those
different
types
of
porous
Paving
materials
around
Central
Square,
the
fourth
design
alternative
are
subsurface
infiltration
areas.
A
These
are
very
similar
to
the
tree.
Trenches
except
they
don't
have
trees
planted
in
them
and
frequently
have
a
perforated
pipe
that
helps
storm
water,
get
from
our
streets
and
sidewalks
down
into
the
stone
area,
so
it
can
absorb
into
the
ground
and
the
fifth
design
alternative
is
an
option
to
just
one
time
seed
rather
than
putting
in
concrete
or
asphalt.
You
can
take
that
space
and
you
can
seat
it
with
a
low
growing
ground
cover,
or
maybe
a
pollinator
wildflower
mix
so
that
you
create
wonderful,
pollinator
habitat
in
your
neighborhoods.
A
A
We
are
really
excited
about
this
program
because
it
will
allow
residents
from
the
city
of
Boston
to
adopt
a
green
infrastructure
feature
in
the
city.
Volunteers
will
be
able
to
do
litter,
removal
and
weeding
and
plant
plants
when
the
features
need
it,
and
our
hope
is
that
by
allowing
our
neighborhood
residents
to
be
involved
in
caring
for
these
features,
that
they
will
feel
a
sense
of
Pride
and
stewardship
and
really
help
to
make
sure
that
these
green
infrastructure
features
survive
and
thrive
in
our
city
before
I.
A
Close
I
just
want
to
do
two
quick,
shout
outs.
First
I
want
to
shout
out
naelia
Rodriguez
who's
over
here
and
the
monom
team
and
the
environment
Department.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
continuing
the
green
infrastructure
conversation
while
I
was
gone.
We
would
not
be
here
if
it
were
not
for
your
work
and,
secondly,
I
want
to
thank
the
public
works
and
Boston
Transportation
staff
for
listening
to
me,
seemingly
endlessly
talk
about
this
policy
for
the
last
month
and
for
showing
just
real
enthusiasm
and
interest
in
learning
about
green
infrastructure.
A
I'm
really
looking
forward
to
you,
know
implementing
this
policy
with
you
over
the
next
several
months
and
years.
So
anyway,
with
that
I
know,
we
have
a
lot
of
time
for
questions
so
at
this
time,
I'm
going
to
invite
the
mayor
and
chief
Franklin
Hodge
to
come
back
up
to
the
podium
and
join
me
to
help
answer
some
questions.
Thank
you.
Everyone.
B
Amazing
amazing,
I'm
gonna,
add
three
more
shout
outs.
We
could
do
a
lot
more,
but
just
in
terms
of
team
members
who
have
been
very
involved
with
this
I
see
our
environment.
Commissioner
Allison
bruzius
is
here.
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
our
director
of
policy
and
planning
for
the
transportation
department
vineeta.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
and
someone
with
many
hats,
but
we're
very
excited
that
now
he
is
back
as
a
senior
advisor
for
infrastructure
projects
across
the
city,
Chris
Osgood.