Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21474

The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) is administered by the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). It is a campus-wide initiative that harnesses the expertise of UMD faculty and the energy and ingenuity of UMD students to help Maryland communities become more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. PALS is designed to provide innovative, low-cost assistance to local governments while creating real-world problem-solving experiences for University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate students.

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    Scenario Planning for Restorative Justice in Lakeland
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2022) Abban, John; Abe, Danielle; Asamoah, Heather; Dyson, Katharine; Farieta, Maria; Hackman, Michael; Jett, Connor; Kaku, Upasana; Kaushik, Redowan; Madden, Maureen; Mekonnen, Elizabeth; Mitchell, Caitlyn; Nkwantabisah, Pamela Owusu; Ripley, Benjamin; Spaniol, Matthew; Whiteheart, Rachel; Irazabal, Clara; Cameron, Hannah
    This report begins with a discussion of the concept of restorative justice and the three themes that guided and organized our work — community infrastructure, housing and land use, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Following this introduction of the three guiding themes, the report contains a summary of our analysis of existing conditions, including a review of different planning sectors, a brief history of Lakeland, and a summary of plans and policies that have influenced the course of Lakeland. The next section of the report is a summary of the findings of our various community engagement approaches, including recommendations for future best practices for the city and the Restorative Justice Commission as they continue this work. Finally, we present the three planning scenarios — Status Quo, Reform, and Revolutionary — that envision various alternative futures for Lakeland.
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    Greater Baybrook Green Network Plan: A community vision plan for increasing connectivity and enhancing green assets
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2022) Stokes, Bridget; Kweon, Byoung-Suk; Kweon, Byoung-Suk
    The Green Network Plan was designed by determining ongoing investment strategies in the neighborhood, evaluating opportunities and constraints, and analyzing demographics, park equity, environmental justice, and other current site conditions. This green network plan can be used as a guide for creating community priorities for short-term and long-term development related to economic and environmental sustainability. The goal of this Green Network Plan is to enhance and strengthen the community of the Greater Baybrook by connecting the area’s green infrastructure into a unified network of safe and vibrant neighborhoods. It is a Vision Plan for how the neighborhood can enhance its existing natural resources and grow its infrastructure to improve the health and well-being of residents. It has been widely researched that communities with green infrastructure have increased economic, environmental, and social benefits (EPA, 2014). This increased exposure to the natural environment promotes physical health (McCurdy, 2010), mental well-being (Kaplan, 1995), and social connectivity (Jennings, 2019).
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    Incorporating Wifi into Watkins Regional Park
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2022) Accomando, Delaney; Barton, Grace; Cavender, Nicole; Chow, Kianna; Cowley, Deanna; Duary, Rahat; Fan, Elin; Hammet, Bridgette; Hess, Jacob; Kirshenboim, Lital; Liriano, Alondra; Peterson, Luke; Rodrigo, Karisha; Shallbetter, Elise; Stebbins, Zaria; Steele, Alyssa; Xu, Yike; Ziolkowski, Theodore; Kweon, Byoung-Suk
    The need for new approaches to ensure internet access that would bridge society's "digital divide" became evident when instruction shifted online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Project BRIDGE, a UMD project funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to bring free Wi-Fi to public parks while creating technology that could bridge the digital divide and provide internet access to individuals and communities who now struggle to get online. In this studio, students explored community needs by conducting a community engagement session in Watkins Regional Park and then proposing design solutions to accommodate Wi-Fi use in various areas of the park.
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    Youth Sports Field Assessment
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2022) Hofmeister, Mason; Maynor, Jarrett; Miller, Matthew; O’Connor, Payton; Wilcom, Brett; Rinehart, Geoff
    This project provided an opportunity to measure and quantify important field parameters related to characteristics of athletic field safety.
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    Garrett Park Arboretum Workflow Management
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2021) Abdulmalek, Aliyah; Hough, Michael; Hurtado, Marzena; Mulugeta, Nur; Shaikh, Samrah; Rainsford, TJ
    In Fall of 2021, our team of five University of Maryland students enrolled in the Capstone Project course (INST490) led by Prof. TJ Rainsford, embarked on the consultancy assignment for the Town of Garrett Park. The focus of the project was the Town’s arboretum workflow management. The project proposal and requirements were determined under the patronage of the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), the UMD’s campus-wide initiative to engage faculty and students in projects that help partnering jurisdictions address their real-world challenges (UMD NCSG, n.d.). After a comprehensive analysis of services and information needs related to arboretum management, we have researched and identified actionable insights and technology solutions that, as we believe, could bring significant improvements to the current workflow. The following report is a summation of our findings.
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    Small-Scale, Local Production in Prince Georgeʼs County, MD
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2020) Brinley, Anna; Murnen, Lily; Nye, Kari; Boone, Bobby
    Through their work with the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland (UMD), the Prince George’s County Planning Department commissioned this report from the university’s Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS). PALS works with local jurisdictions throughout Maryland to identify projects and problems that can be taught through university courses where students focus on developing innovative, research-based solutions. Small-Scale Local Production is the result of a graduate urban planning and studies seminar initiated with the intent to evaluate the manufacturing and maker ecosystem in Prince George’s County. Building upon insights gained from previous studies in Prince George’s County, Washington, DC, Montgomery County, and Baltimore City, the course evolved to focus on zoning policy, programmatic support, and real estate analysis. This report centers small, production-based businesses as part of an inclusive economic development strategy for the County.
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    Tactical Urbanism in Cheverly and Suitland, Maryland
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2020) Ayinde, Andrea; Feehley, Rob; Marini, Alex; Perison, Emily; Reed, Tyra; Spector, Laura; Thomas, Parker; Clarke, Ella; Peaks, Kelly; Ritzer, Dylan; Sadiq, Thomas; Thomas, Kate; Winstel, Matt; Williams, Morgan; Foreman, Christopher
    What is Tactical Urbanism? Arts and urban consultant, Cara Courage, describes tactical urbanism as making small but impactful changes to the cultural and physical fabric of a city or town to improve the “urban lived experience.” These improvements can involve elements of art, nature, or community, among others. The elements are planned and introduced as part of strategic rejuvenation efforts. Unlike major gentrification construction projects, tactical urbanism elements can be introduced quickly and at a low cost. Additionally, tactical urbanism seeks to build on the preexisting characteristics of a community without stripping away what makes it unique. The Town of Cheverly: The town of Cheverly, Maryland features a mix of residential, industrial, and some commercial areas. After research, site visits, and communication with stakeholders, it was determined that the town could benefit from improved pedestrian accessibility and community-engaging spaces. Cheverly’s industrial parks are critical to its economy, providing jobs and income for town’s residents. For this reason, it is a priority to preserve the industrial areas while making them more accessible for workers and pedestrians. Specifically, access to public transportation can be improved with elements such as additional sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, bike lanes, and bike racks. Cheverly’s residential areas lack buffers from nearby industrial activities. Trees and fences should be added throughout the town to mitigate the negative impacts of industrial uses. The residential areas could also benefit from improved community recreation and gathering spaces. Local parks lack features that attract regular community use such as picnic tables, gardens, or other functional elements. It will be a priority to improve Cheverly’s residential areas to make best use of their existing spaces and foster greater community interaction. Finally, Cheverly’s commercial areas are dated and relatively inactive. The restaurants along Maryland Avenue don’t attract as much business as in the past and the once popular Friendly Inn is now largely unused. In an effort to revive these spaces, small projects such as creating patio space, safe pedestrian walkways, and improved parking locations can have a great impact. It is important to the town that the local businesses can thrive. Therefore, any tactical urbanism projects will aim to bring more foot traffic to the existing commercial areas and create spaces that community members will feel comfortable using. Creative Suitland and Sustainability: Creative Suitland began in February 2020 as an “arts-based community development strategy” that aims to support local arts through “job creation, artist opportunity, audience development, creative placemaking, and arts education.” Suitland, Maryland is an unincorporated community within Prince George’s County with approximately 25,000 residents. At its colorful facility, filled with locally sourced artwork, Creative Suitland’s weekly classes for all ages aim to create space for residents to build relationships through affordable arts entertainment. The facility includes a large auditorium, studios for dance classes, and rooms for meetings and art classes. Creative Suitland has the advantage of a unique community location. Across the street from the U.S. Census Bureau and near four public schools (William Beanes and Suitland Elementary Schools, Drew-Freeman Middle School, and Suitland High School), Creative Suitland is highly accessible, provided that the infrastructure exists to attract and manage artists. Volunteers have done an exceptional job of fostering an environment that emphasizes community needs and preferences. Further improvements can solidify Creative Suitland as a community asset. Exterior work that complements the building’s interior improvements can help Creative Suitland make bold placemaking statement. In conjunction with the Creative Suitland team, this report’s recommendations seek to enhance the beauty, accessibility, and sustainability of Creative Suitland’s building exterior and outdoor space. We suggest the flowing elements to bridge the arts, community development, and environmental sustainability: • sustainable lighting • green infrastructure • outdoor stage • outdoor furniture • green roof • grants and funding opportunities • pedestrian bridge.
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    Flooding in Patapsco Valley State Park: Recommendations for Signage and Communication Materials
    (Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2020) Acuña, Kierstin; Colbert, Jack; Garvey, Christina; Hebner, Briley; Joy, Katie; Plotkin, Jordan; Wilhelm-Glab, Christiana; Boules, Caroline; Miralles-Barboza, Andrea
    Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) and its surrounding areas have been subject to increased flooding in recent years. In 2016 and 2018, the area experienced two 1,000-year floods (Halverson, 2018) that significantly damaged the park. Flooding events of this severity and magnitude are expected to be exacerbated in the future due to rapidly increasing impacts from climate change (Denchak, 2019). The park has found it challenging to communicate flood risks to visitors. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which manages PVSP, is concerned that visitors don’t plan ahead when they attend the park, and don’t know the risks involved in hiking through the park, which puts them at a greater risk of harm in the event of a flood. Additionally, many PVSP visitors don’t speak or read English, which creates a significant communication gap between visitors and the park to convey safety messages about flooding. This project aims to determine the most effective language for signage and communication materials to communicate flood risks and what to do if a flood occurs. The group reviewed academic and non-academic literature on the best ways to communicate risk, the best ways to educate youth, strategies used by other parks to communicate risk, as well as information about the Ellicott City area. The research and final deliverables aim to determine the most effective language for signs within PVSP, and the best education and communication materials to distribute to park visitors. The project began with a client meeting to define expectations for the project. We determined three major aspects: creating safety signage, creating educational materials, and creating a video to be shown at the PVSP mobile ranger station. We also discussed the importance of improving communication with Spanish-speaking visitors. Following this meeting, the group researched flood-risk education, risk communication in parks, risk communication with Spanish speakers, and best practices for park signage. A site visit gave the team a better understanding of the client’s expectations. After this visit, the group divided into three teams; the first team was tasked with editing existing park signs, the second team was tasked with developing educational materials, and the third team was tasked with writing a detailed video script for use throughout the park and at the mobile ranger station. Each team conducted additional relevant research. The result was three deliverables: recommendations and mock-ups of effective safety signage, educational pamphlets that inform park visitors about flooding risks, and a script for an educational video on flooding. We hope this work can contribute to DNR’s goal of providing accessible and appropriate flood communication materials for all park visitors.