WC138 SeptOct 2024 - Flipbook - Page 29
Halifax Water
“This is also a climate change project (and) an adaptation piece,
because the daylighted river that’s coming back above ground will
have more stormwater capacity than the pipe does.”
easily access and it’s in a culvert that’s
not very deep.”
Currently, Townsend said when it
comes to daylighting “in the truest
form” there are site candidates within
existing parks being considered and
“one of the biggest things that excites
me about these projects within parks
is bringing back some natural habitat.
That’s something we lack in urban
parks where we’ve gone towards mown
grass and lots of playing fields.” However, by shifting priorities and daylighting some of the existing streams within
those parks, it would “add valuable
biodiversity within the city.”
One such project is the Tatlow
and Volunteer Park stream restoration, which in addition to improving
biodiversity, will support rainwater
management goals and improve access
to the beach and shoreline (by adding
Daylighting streams not only supports stormwater management, it also encourages biodiversity, which
an accessible ramp). Made possible,
researchers say improves moral in urban communities.
added Townsend, as a result of getting
buy-in from local residents and “hugely
important” natural infrastructure
funding from the federal government.
associated with the practice of daylighting, there are always going
Financial support “that’s making projects happen that may not
to be offsetting challenges, from densification to land scarcity,
(proceed) otherwise.”
to the balancing of priorities on limited budgets. Consequently,
One of the reasons why they chose this park was to support
even cities such as Vancouver and Halifax that already “see the
the local fish by virtue of the fact the park’s waterway has a
light” still need to be selective about when and where daylighting
direct connection into the ocean. “And this park is not heavily
makes the most sense.
programmed (with activities). So that’s another consideration
But as Khirfan shared recently with the City of Waterloo, yet
because you need quite a bit of space for an effective daylightanother jurisdiction considering bringing buried streams back to
ing project,” said Townsend. In contrast, “in a very urban
life, “it doesn’t have to be like tens and hundreds of millions of
context, outside of parks… probably what’s preventing us from
dollars. It can be micro scale interventions, ones that build on
doing a lot of stream daylighting projects is that former ‘v’ that
top of each other and are sustained over time.” It’s a strategy she
the stream was in has been filled in with private properties on
said that can “be more effective in mitigating flooding, particutop of both sides.”
larly as we experience more extreme weather events. A strategy
What is becoming increasing clear for Townsend and other
which for any city considering daylighting as an option she says,
daylighting pioneers is that while there are multiple benefits
“is a sound approach.”
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