#PARK(ing) Day Highlights

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Thank you to everyone who stopped by our PARK(ing) Day installation on Friday!  We had a blast talking to the community about climate change, the role of landscape architects in resiliency planning, and how we can make positive changes for the future. For those of you who missed it, here are the highlights from the day:

We talked to passers-by about current sea level rise projections and what that means for Providence and Rhode Island. In turn they shared their thoughts and ideas with us on index cards and added them to our wall of hope throughout the day, creating a colorful mosaic. Some of our younger participants added to our chalk art of Rhode Island on the ground. Sailing flags spelling out H-O-P-E hung below the banners on the sidewalk.  We used inundation-tolerant plant species to catch people's attention and make an attractive and informative display. The signage shows maps of sea level projections in Providence for 2050 and 2100 and talks about the causes, effects, and solutions to the problems coastal cities like Providence are facing.

COMING UP:

DesignWeek by DESIGNxRI September 14 - 25

As one of the local design talents being spotlighted this year, our very own Taber Caton will be giving a lecture and tour of Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. Searle Design Group completed the Master Plan for the center in 2010 to implement sustainable updates to the exterior grounds of New England's largest indoor garden.

This event is taking place THIS THURSDAY September 22 at noon at Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, RI and is SOLD OUT as of today. Click here to learn more.

Progress in the Fight Against #climatechange @PARK(ing)DayPVD! #sealevelrise #oceanstate #renewableenergy #sustainablepower

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Climate Change is not all doom and gloom - while we still have a long way to go to return the Earth's climate to a sustainable condition, there are some positive developments. One of our greatest successes to date is the increased feasibility and implementation of renewable energy sources. 

Rhode Island is a leader in renewable wind energy. The Block Island Wind Farm is the nation's first offshore wind farm. The project is small, consisting of five turbines capable of powering about 17,000 homes, but symbolic.  You can read more about it here: http://nyti.ms/2bbYh97

In 2000, 9.4% of the United States' generated power came from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass). By 2013 this percentage increased to 13.1%. The biggest game changer among these has been the increased use of wind power.  In 2006, Rhode Island had the ability to produce 1 Megawatt of wind power. We can now produce 9.  While we can't reverse the environmental degradation that has already occurred, changes like this are a small step in the right direction and lay an important foundation for policy decisions based on sustainable growth.

THIS FRIDAY September 16, 2016 come eat, drink, and play with us as we reflect on the past and look toward the future to celebrate PARK(ing) Day 2016!  We'll be at 201 Westminster Street from 8am-5pm! Take a walk around the city and check out all the amazing pop-up parks brought to you by your favorite local designers and artists - including the debut of RISD's brand new student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects at 63 Washington Street.  

If you want to learn more about the history of the fight against climate change, check out this interactive timeline of the progress made created by the United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change:  unfccc.int/timeline

Getting Ready for @PARK(ing)DayPVD! #climatechange #sealevelrise #oceanstate

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We've been hard at work planning, modeling, and prototyping a pop-up park to engage the community about the issue of sea level rise in Rhode Island.  The neighbor's cat came over to lend a helping paw with our prototype. If you're curious about what we've been up to, come see us on September 16 from 9-5 in front of the Bank of America Building at 111 Westminster St. in downtown Providence!  Come enjoy cold drinks and fun (there'll be sidewalk chalk), and help us envision a better future for the Ocean State. 

Climate Change Fact of the Day:

  • The average carbon footprint per person/per year in America is 20 metric tons.
  • The average carbon footprint per person/per year for all other nationalities is 4 metric tons.
  • The worldwide target for combating climate change is 2 metric tons.

To learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint, visit carbonfund.org (big hint: drive less)

End-of-Summer Celebrations

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To celebrate the end of a great summer, Searle Design Group went on a field trip to Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA and Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA.  

We explored the living museum at Garden in the woods - a collection of native new england plants and habitats set among varied terrain carved long ago by glaciers.

At Tower Hill we embarked on a guided tour with their Director of Horticulture who shared the history of the site and discussed the future of their sustainable management practices in the face of climate change.

Feast your eyes on some of the beautiful colors and textures we saw:

Join us for DesignWeek at Roger Williams Park Botanical Center!

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DesignWeek is an annual celebration hosted by DESIGNxRI spotlighting talent and innovation in the Rhode Island design community.

This year Searle Design Group's Taber Caton will be offering a can't-miss opportunity to tour the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center and learn how SDG's sustainable vision for the grounds of New England's largest indoor garden became a reality.

Learn more and register for this free Eat and Speak Luncheon event on September 22 at noon at 1000 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, RI.

The Ocean State in the Face of Sea Level Rise #sealevel #climatechange

  • Rhode Island is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, yet has over 400 miles of coastline.  
  • For every inch of sea level rise, the ocean moves 50-100 inches inland.
  • 2015 was the warmest year on record.  

These facts are alarming, especially if you live in one of the 2.6 million homes in the United States that will be flooded as a result of sea level rise in the next 35 years. As human pollution and over-consumption continue to cause global temperatures to spike resulting in melting ice caps and altered weather patterns, Rhode Island is poised at a pivotal moment in history. The state has the opportunity to set a precedent of innovative coastal design solutions, but we need to modify our development and consumption patterns at every scale before the Ocean State is entirely returned to the ocean.

To explore the consequences of sea level rise in Rhode Island and beyond, visit Climate Central's interactive maps and databases at ssrf.climatecentral.org. Also visit Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council Climate Change and Sea Level Rise page for what is happening in our state at a government policy level.

Come share your thoughts about sea level rise with us at the (PARK)ing Day Event on September 18, 2016 from 9am-5pm. We will be creating an informative and interactive parklet in front of the Bank of America Building in downtown Providence (111 Westminster St.)  We look forward to seeing you there!

Pawtucket Considers New Commuter Rail to Boston

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As traffic continues to get more congested, Pawtucket is seeking out a sustainable solution.  Its location near the Massachusetts border makes it a popular location for people who want to live in Rhode Island and commute to work or school in Boston. With a population of 71,000 it is the fourth largest city in Rhode Island.  The closest train stations currently are South Attleboro Station located 3 miles to the north of Pawtucket city center and Providence station 5 miles to the south.  The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is hoping that the re-introduction of a commuter rail station in downtown Pawtucket will alleviate some of the vehicular traffic and encourage more sustainable, transit-oriented development.  If you're interested in following the progress of this project visit:  http://projects.vhb.com/pawtucketcommuterrail/default.asp

Construction Updates: Swan Point Cemetery and Handicraft Club

The heat wave is not slowing down these projects - the slideshow below shows the new road currently being constructed at Swan Point Cemetery.  This is not your typical road - with a three-foot deep profile containing a "gravel reservoir" layer, this project is using innovative porous pavement in an effort to capture all stormwater on site to adhere to standards set forth by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.  

At Handicraft Club workers are well-underway in making safety and accessibility improvements on this challenging site, the construction details drawn by Searle Design Group are coming to life!

Stop and Smell the Roses at Frazier Terrace! →

The roses are in full bloom at Frazier Terrace.  If you're looking for a cool, quiet place to pause and catch up on your summer reading or people-watch, Frazier Terrace (completed by SDG in 2015) is the spot!  

Summertime in Colgate's Garden! →

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The Blue Jay in the photograph below paid us a visit during lunch today to enjoy all the wonderful colors and textures in Colgate's garden as we ring in the month of July.

A Colorful Visit to the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center →

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Tuesday morning Taber, Rebecca, and Jess did some volunteer weeding at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center.  Searle Design Group developed the master plan for the center in 2010 and with the continued efforts of maintenance staff and volunteers, this portion of the park offers visitors a unique educational experience among a large, diverse collection of plants.  If interested in visiting (or volunteering!) check out: http://www.providenceri.com/botanical-center  

Welcome Jess and Rebecca!

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Jess Wilson is one of two interns joining Searle Design Group for the Summer.  She has just completed her first year of the MLA I program at RISD.  Jess comes from a background in Architecture and received a B.S. from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.  She is an ASLA student member.  

 

Rebecca Ladd is also joining Searle Design Group for a summer internship.  She has just completed her second year of the MLA I program at RISD.  Rebecca has a background in Interior Architecture and completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina, Greensboro.  She is the treasurer of the RISD ASLA student chapter.  

We're presenting at Green RI hosted by @AIARhodeIsland and @iidaNE

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Come by and hear our and others presentations, tour the gardens, and attend the Sustainable Design Showcase #GreenRI

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Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
1000 Elmwood Avenue – Providence, RI