In addition, Scott Maco of the Davey
Institute spoke about i-Tree Tools as
methods for urban forest manage-
ment and research. He discussed
analyzing the structure of the forest
to garner present data that is relat-
able to a general audience and useful
for proactive planning given its appli-
cations (e.g. i-Tree also measures
health and vulnerability data). These
tools are available for free.
Gary, Indiana: resiliency and restoration; brownfields and
reindustrialization
The visit to the Mayor's office in Gary, Indiana, fostered
discussion on how industry can often have such a deep
impact on the social succession of a community—who
was there, who came after and the impact on landscape
use. With the continuing decline in population since the
1960s, 10,000 houses are currently abandoned. Brenda
Scott-Henry, Director of Environmental Green Urbanism
Affairs, and Deirdre Campbell, Director of Commerce
explained that the City of Gary is working hard to stabilize
neighbourhoods through community green infrastructure
plans and programs like Universal Access at Marquette
Park among others like nature tours and historical pres
-
ervation tours.
During our tour of the surrounding neighbourhoods in
Gary, I was struck by the long-term commitment of some
of the volunteers who have settled in empty communities
maintaining anywhere from three to six houses at a time.
The City also encourages volunteers to paint decorative
board-ups and fake windows during "blight" removal
(blight: term used to describe building decay and illegal
dumping). In addition, local and international artists come
together each year for the Graffiti Art Festival as part of
community building and beautification.
these groups. Stewardship and indi-
cators of social resilience include:
place attachment, collective identity,
social cohesion, social networks, and
knowledge exchange.
Graffiti in Gary, IN Photo credit: Adrina C. Bardekjian
Seminar group using i-Tree in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Photo credit: Adrina C. Bardekjian
