Green solutions for the Near West Side

The Near West Side neighborhood is part of the area that contributes stormwater to what is called “the Clinton sewershed.” That means that when it rains in the Near Westside, the water that runs off driveways, sidewalks, streets, and other (called stormwater runoff), ends up in the sewer system. That stormwater was going to be treated at the proposed treatment plant on the old Trolley Lot.

However, there are more “green” (environmentally-friendly) ways of dealing with stormwater than treating it with sewage. From Syracuse.com:

A half-dozen committees are meeting to explore ways to implement Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney’s decision to scrap plans for a downtown sewage treatment plant and instead use trees, gardens and similar means to keep storm water from flushing sewage into the lake.

The first fruit of their labors was recently unveiled to the county Legislature — a proposal to use $75,000 in state funds, $46,600 in county cash and nearly $49,000 in materials and services to reforest and plant rain gardens in the Near West Side. The neighborhood sits in the zone that would have been served by the Clinton Street sewage treatment facility.

…

The application for a state Urban and Community Forestry Grant calls for planting 400 trees. Some would eventually shade Near West Side streets. Others, more thickly planted, would turn vacant city-owned lots into miniature forests, said Brian Liberti, Syracuse’s city arborist and one of many collaborators working on the project.

The application also proposes planting two demonstration rain gardens on public land in the neighborhood.

One garden would be designed using storm water management guidelines put out by DEC. The other would be planted using a “how-to” manual for homeowners from the University of Wisconsin.

Both gardens would serve three roles, the application says: absorb excess storm water; recycle that water to grow the garden; and serve as a classroom where residents can learn how to install their own rain gardens.

There are many groups interested in working on these projects in the Near West Side. But to assure their success, the support from residents in the neighborhood is needed.

The Near West Side Initiative, Inc., has been hosting a series of neighborhood meetings on the evening of the 4th Thursday each month. Neighbors have created a series of workgroups dedicated to different topics. One workgroup is looking to “greening” the neighborhood. This group will be very important as the efforts to manage stormwater in the Near West Side move forward.

If you are interested in finding out more about green solutions for the Near West Side, please come to our next meeting. Watch for an announcement here on the blog!