The project community in 2020 is the city of Hopkins, Minnesota: specific partner groups are Hopkins City Planners, MNDNR Urban Forestry and Twin Cites municipal facilities managers (https://www.hopkinsmn.com/).The overall goal of this project is to assist the Hopkins and the municipal facilities managers as they move forward with their planning for sustainability initiatives, native vegetation, enhancing urban forest health, and engaging residents.
Green Step Cities AdvancementPurpose: To use the Green Step Cities program to advance Hopkins’ sustainability goals. Students will identify and recommend how Hopkins can use the Green Steps Cities approach to track progress in the comprehensive plan and achieve higher Green Step scores. Determine
where Hopkins should start and why. Link to Project |
Zoning for Sustainable BuildingsPurpose: To guide sustainable redevelopment in Hopkins. Sustainable building zoning options will support the Comprehensive Plan goals for multi-unit housing that is economical and environmentally sustainable. Students will evaluate easy first steps for Hopkins to use in the next ten years.
Link to Project |
Right-of-Way and Public Park VegetationPurpose: To enhance vegetation in public areas of Hopkins to support the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. Analysis of secondary data about native plantings/pollinator-friendly plantings, restoration, management in rights-of-way/easement used in other areas like Golden Valley’s Natural Resource Management Policy, City of Oakdale – Alternative Vegetation Options for Public Lands. Identify Hopkins, MNDOT, and County right-of-way areas and select spots in public parks. Possible Hopkins ground surveys in a few key sites if travel is allowed. Plan for assessment, implementation, and management of aesthetically-pleasing and environmentally- friendly vegetation.
Link to Project |
Outreach Media Campaign for Urban ForestsPurpose: To inform and engage citizens in the importance of tree planting, care, and services that supports the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. The media plan should include science-based information communicated in fun or meaningful ways with a campaign release timeline.
Link to Project |
Volunteer Urban Tree SurveysPurpose: To provide an urban tree inventory of tree type, size, ownership, and conditions to support the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. Determine how the public might benefit or be harmed by urban trees and create a tree inventory for evaluation of these attributes over time.
Link to Project |
Urban Forest OrdinancesPurpose: To provide policy options that support an urban tree canopy to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals, resilient forests through biodiversity and preservation, and best management practices. These ordinances will support the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. The focus will be on pest and disease control, tree preservation, and heritage trees with three levels of bronze, silver, and gold standards.
Link to Project |
Community Engaged-strategy for Implementing Bee LawnsPurpose: To provide sustainable vegetation cover in private and public spaces that supports aesthetics, biodiversity, lower costs, and environmental quality. Students will plan the community engagement strategy to meet the sustainability objectives of the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan. Students will determine where lawns and residential green spaces currently occur, ownership (i.e., businesses, homeowners, multi-family housing units, schools), and how they are used. The project provides a policy with a planning and community- engagement strategy for sustainable ground covers.
Link to Project |
Park Use Assessment and Imaginary 2020-2040Purpose: To provide a planning path to meet the health and well-being needs of current and future residents that supports the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. Based on secondary data determine how parks are used today, levels of use at different parks, who uses them (i.e., pertinent demographics such as age, race/ethnicity), and park investments. If travel is allowed, field test the park use survey protocols. Design a user preferences survey for the present and future, e.g., how users would prefer the parks evolve in responses to recreational trends, what should remain, how facilities could be improved to accommodate population trends.
Link to Project |
Ash Management Planning for Urban ForestsPurpose: To facilitate and coordinate solutions to urban wood utilization, wood waste management, and availability of diverse tree stock. How does an ash management plan support the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals? What ash management models are most appropriate for Hopkins over the next five years?
Link to Project |
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan for Urban ForestPurpose: To provide adaptation and mitigation plan that supports the health and well-being needs of future residents and aligns with the Hopkins Comprehensive Plan goals. Where are flood impacts and storm impacts on trees the worst for Hopkins? How could Hopkins’ urban forest be modified to reduce adverse effects and increase positive outcomes?
Link to Project |