Recently, I sat down with Jorge Romero-Lozano. He is currently undertaking several greening projects around Bernal Heights and beyond.
How long have you been a Bernal resident?
What inspired you to launch Greening Projects?
How do you engage with the community to ensure that the green spaces you create meet their needs?
I garner buy-in from at least the neighboring property owners, which is also required by local public agencies and grant administrators. Then I try to make sure that we engage as many people as possible, especially underserved communities, who often do not speak English and do not understand the processes, such as being able to provide their input, the permitting and hearing process, as well as how design and construction works.
Can you tell us about some of your projects?
- We are shutting down the 400 block of Ogden Avenue, between Folsom and Gates Streets, to thru traffic and turning the area into a park.
- We are adding more garden plots to the Good Prospect Community Garden on Prospect Street between Cortland and Santa Marina, as well as improving the site with more landscaping and a gathering area
- The vacant lot on César Chávez Street next to the 101 southbound ramps will be turned into a cyclist way station, as well as a site to honor the memory and work of César Chávez.
- We are working with the Carolina Street Median project to add more landscaping and provide a vista point on the south end of the median.
How do you measure the success of a green project beyond the completion of the physical space?
How do you incorporate sustainability into your green projects in the construction process and ongoing maintenance?
- It starts with design, for example:
- Minimizing grading not to disrupt the existing topography as much as feasible.
- Designing bio swales, which collect runoff and return it to the groundwater supply
- Specifying materials, which are sustainable, such as porous cement, which allows water to seep back into the ground; recyclable and/or repurposed materials, such as fallen tree trunks to make benches; repurposing demolished materials, such as concrete, which can be uses as base material or to line swales.
- Rainwater harvesting, which captures water and is then used for irrigation.
- During construction, we ensure:
- Dust control and pollution are minimized.
- Controlling waste management and recycling
- Limiting materials used to reduce waste
How do you ensure that the green spaces you create positive impact on the environment and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change?
- Stormwater runoff is used for irrigation through rainwater harvesting
- Stormwater runoff is captured in bioswales, which reduces the amounts flowing into the combined sewer system.
- More trees and plants help increase the tree canopy, which improves health and serve as screens.
- They reduce the heat island effect, which is caused by hardscape materials, such as concrete and asphalt pavement.
- By volunteering to help in the design and/or maintenance of the new green spaces
- By donating to their favorite green project to buy plants, playground equipment, benches, etc.
Where can we learn more about Greening Projects?