End-of-Life Issues

Understanding the end-of-life options for the projects will need to be considered by material and weighed for the advantages and disadvantages of each. This includes removal from the site, transportation, energy, and reuse or disposal.

CLIMATE-POSITIVE OUTDOOR PROJECTS WHERE CONCRETE PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE

These park and pocket park projects illustrate how concrete plays a critical role in climate-positive outdoor projects. The insertion of pocket parks into urban centers has many environmental and health benefits for the community.

Jemmy's Dog Run, Madison Square Park, Manhattan

Located just south of Madison Square Park's West 25th Street entrance, Jemmy’s Dog Run is a year-round community park for dogs, aptly named after founding father and fourth president of the United States, James “Jemmy” Madison. The dog park is popular for locals to bring their pets to frolic, socialize, and play. The Madison Square Park Conservancy enlisted the expertise of designer SWA/Balsley to envision a new design for the dog run within this historic New York City landmark. The newly designed space complements the park’s Victorian-era charm while integrating such modern features as water-fill stations for the dogs, climbing mounds, upgraded K9 turf, and the installation of permeable pavers.

The park’s contemporary ambiance was elevated with hexagon pavers in a midnight sky color, delivering a streamlined and polished appearance. The decision to opt for these pavers was driven by their permeable application, allowing for greater absorption of excess rainwater into the subsoil through wider joint gaps. This design approach not only helps prevent flooding but also prevents freezing during colder months. The distinct finish has a mottled surface akin to natural granite, accentuating its appeal under sunlight's warmth. The finish also delivers a safe, slip-resistant texture for pets and pet owners.

Yolanda Garcia Park, Bronx

Named in honor of a well-known and widely respected community activist, Yolanda Garcia Park is a lively outdoor space for local families to gather, relax and play. The park includes modern playground equipment, an outdoor adult gym, a lush green room, and winding pathways for the Melrose community.

New York City Parks incorporated permeable pavers into the design to meet the commitment to green infrastructure and sustainability. The unique hex paver shape in three distinct colors adds a timely urban feel to the space and creates a playful pixilated surface. The pavers’ ultra-smooth facemix finish offers the benefits of durability and long-lasting color, while the permeable application aids in reducing stormwater runoff. Capable of withstanding even vehicular loads, the paver provides maximum performance for active pedestrian walkways. What was once a vacant lot has been reimagined into a thriving center for active and healthy living.

Liberty Village, Toronto, Ontario

In Toronto, Ontario, the corner of this intersection creates a space to meet, rest and watch passersby. The permeable pavers used at the site do their part to help mitigate runoff in this well-aged community. The addition of the water feature and art installation provides a calming influence in a bustling city. PMA Landscape Architects designed it.

Prairie District Park, Chicago

In Chicago, a pocket park replaces a vacant lot at the northeast corner of 21st Street and South Prairie Avenue. Designed by landscape architect site design group, ltd. (site) in collaboration with an active community group, the new park is divided into three parts: a playground with water sprayers for kids, a combination turf and pavement area for canines, and a plaza with seating. Permeable pavers were chosen for the park's walkways in a brown color to accent the nearby vintage brick lofts.

The park is one of many components in redeveloping the McCormick Place area. It offers a welcoming and vibrant half acre of recreational space for the neighborhood to host community meet-ups and other programmable events.

Courtyard Park, Fulton Market, Chicago

Fulton West is a newly constructed and LEED Gold-certified mixed-use office and retail development located in one of Chicago’s hottest areas, Fulton Market. Serving as an architectural anchor of the neighborhood, the impressive nine-story building features a plethora of modern office amenities as it fronts onto a 20,000-square-foot courtyard park enclosed by the surrounding office buildings. The green space stands out amid modern aluminum and glass facades, creating unique visual interest and a welcoming environment for tenants. The lushly-landscaped courtyard provides an exciting gathering and event space, featuring a wide variety of colorful flowers and shrubs, custom wooden benches, water fountains, and a lawn amphitheater. Chicago-based site design group, ltd. (site) chose Unilock Permeable Plank pavers with Smooth Premier finish to create the walkways around the building entrance, providing a long-lasting, smooth, contemporary texture and alleviating any future stormwater management concerns that frequent the Chicago area.

CONCLUSION

The design community continues pursuing net-zero carbon emissions for every project. Tangible goals are set for less than 10 years from now (2030), and much work must be done between now and then. Material developments, chemical advancements, and new methods are coming down the pipeline rapidly, retooling our resources for success. In the meantime, simple strategies can be used today—using products with recycled or carbon-friendly content, using materials that are already on site, selecting low-maintenance products, weighing the longer-term offsets of the product or system in which it is used, and designing carbon neutral projects that over time become net zero or and turn into carbon sinks. As these practices continue, we are heading to a carbon-neutral world.

END NOTES

¹“Overview of Greenhouse Gases” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Last updated 11 April 2024. Web. Accessed 21 November 2024
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³Jingjing Wang, Yurong Zhang, Yuanfeng Wang. “Environmental impacts of short building lifespans in China considering time value.” Journal of Cleaner Production. Volume 203. 2018. Web. Accessed 3 July 2023.
⁴Sanjuán, Miguel Ángel, Carmen Andrade, Pedro Mora, and Aniceto Zaragoza. 2020. "Carbon Dioxide Uptake by Cement-Based Materials: A Spanish Case Study." Applied Sciences. Web. Accessed 14 June 2023.
⁵Bezerra, J.V.A.; Mota, T.G.; Andrade, H.M.L.S.; Andrade, L.P.; Vigoderis, R.B. “Comparative study of retaining walls aiming to optimize carbon footprint.” Revista Ibero Americana de Ciências Ambientais. 2020. Web. Accessed 3 July 2023. .
⁶“Reduced Life Cycle Costs of Pervious Pavement: Permeable Pavement Provides Long-Term Cost Savings and Environmental Benefits.” North Central Texas Council of Governments. Web. 13 July 2023.
⁷“Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Tools.” Applied Research Associates Inc. Prepared for Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. 31 Dec. 2018. Web. 13 July 2023.
⁸Bezerra, J.V.A.; Mota, T.G.; Andrade, H.M.L.S.; Andrade, L.P.; Vigoderis, R.B. “Comparative study of retaining walls aiming to optimize carbon footprint.” Revista Ibero Americana de Ciências Ambientais. 2020. Web. Accessed 3 July 2023.

Kathy Price-Robinson is a nationally known remodeling and construction writer. Her award-winning remodeling series, Pardon Our Dust, ran for 12 years in the Los Angeles Times. www.kathyprice.com