Greenspace After a Disaster: The Need to Close the Gap With Recovery for Greater Resilience

Abstract

Parks and greenspace planning have often been limited to environmental planning; however, these spaces’ ecological benefits may also protect communities from hazards and their negative outcomes, thereby increasing resiliency. Although hazard planning has begun to consider nature-based mitigation solutions, the postdisaster recovery planning of these greenspaces is rare. This can result in a loss of function, a delay in the return to normality, and lost opportunity for increasing park, greenspace, and community resilience. Here I discuss the nature of green infrastructure after a disaster, using examples from both literature and recent North American hurricanes, to suggest the need to add parks and greenspaces to recovery and resilience planning.

Keywords:

• disaster
• green infrastructure
• hurricanes
• parks
• resilience

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be found on the publisher’s website.

Notes

1 Based on information presented at the 2019 APA Florida’s Public Policy Workshop and interviews from the Apalachee Regional Planning Council and large landowner/farmer, May 2019.

2 Local mitigation strategies and postdisaster redevelopment plans were obtained from websites and email/phone requests. Five counties did not respond or were in the process of review and refused to send documents. Goals and objectives were analyzed for these data. These plans were analyzed and ranked by environmental/park features following the scale developed in Brody (2003).

3 Based on interview with Duval County staff, February 2019.

4 Outreach was extended to Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jackson, and Liberty Counties and covered 17 cities/towns within these boundaries. Ten state parks were in the affected counties, six of which were still closed as of 26 November 2018.

5 The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (2003) is a U.S. law regarding federal disaster assistance. Traditionally, it is known for supporting short-term relief and aiding the return to predisaster conditions.

6 Based on interview with City of Miami parks staff, February 2019.

7 Based on email with Jacksonville’s Emergency Preparedness Division, December 2019.

8 Based on interview with Volunteer Florida staff, December 2018.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shaleen Miller

SHALEEN MILLER ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate at Florida State University and a visiting lecturer at the University of North Carolina focusing on green infrastructure, resilience, and healthy communities.