Below, we ask you to consider one of three tracks to help you focus your proposal. The tracks are provided to seed ideas — we also welcome proposals related to this year’s theme that fall outside of these three directions. (However, please try to stick to this year's theme!)

Track 1: Visualizing the Invisible Work of Green Infrastructure

Beautiful public spaces are more than just pleasing to the eye. The elements that make them aesthetically delightful — adequate tree canopy, permeable surface materials like grass or native groundcovers (instead of asphalt!), and diverse vegetation — are on the front lines of combating flooding, water pollution, and excessive heat. Existing green infrastructure is all around us and largely goes undetected – a sign that it has been well integrated into the landscape.

Rain gardens at Audubon Circle soak up and filter stormwater.

Going forward, the City will be working toward an even more comprehensive green infrastructure network as part of Boston’s Green New Deal. We are looking for installations that draw attention to green infrastructure and educate the public about its benefits and behind-the-scenes workings, as well as shift the way we view nature in the city.

We ask you to consider a range of locations with current installations of green infrastructure. With the map below, you can find locations of installations on the streetscape or at schools and libraries.

You can find more comprehensive information about each of the sites on our FAQ page.

Track 2: Community Gardens as Hubs for Green Infrastructure + Food Justice

Community gardens empower residents to make their neighborhoods greener, healthier, and more resilient. They are also vital components of Boston’s green infrastructure network. How can we find new ways to support community gardens as hubs for green infrastructure and food justice?

Here is some inspiration:

• Composed of rows of raised beds, these gardens are incredibly permeable, reducing the generation of stormwater runoff. Unfortunately, many gardens also face exorbitant water bills—if access to water is even an option. How can we improve the way gardeners harvest rainwater for their crops and leverage the gardens’ inherent permeability to enhance green stormwater management?
• How can we improve and demonstrate the cooling effects of community gardens in neighborhoods experiencing excessive heat?

For this track, you can consider 1) one of three BCYF community centers with gardens or raised beds or 2) any community garden or pocket park operated by The Trustees. Take a look at the map below:

Track 3: Greening City Parking Lots

The previous track prompts applicants to do interesting things with sites that are already contributing to Boston’s green infrastructure system. What about parcels of land that do more harm than good?

Bioswales, which collect stormwater runoff through inlets in the curbs, installed in the parking lot of Washington Irving Middle School.

Asphalt parking lots are the worst of the worst, but present a great opportunity. City-owned parking lots offer a blank slate for experimenting with green interventions, such as rain gardens, bioswales, bioretention, and permeable paving.

As Joni Mitchell laments, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” The parking lots may not return to paradise, but how can we ensure that they contribute to the budding landscape of green infrastructure in Boston?

If you are interested in this track, you can consider any municipally-owned lot in your proposals. An interactive map of the lots can be found below: