Anaheim Outdoors Connectivity Plan
Long Beach Aquarium, Long Beach
SustainabilityThere are many opportunities to improve Anaheim’s urban landscape. Proposed pocket parks, linear greenbelts, streetside rain gardens, and permeable pavement can provide opportunities for urban heat island reduction, stormwater retention, improved water quality and environmental education. Scroll down or click on the following topics to learn more about sustainability opportunities in the City of Anaheim.
Expand urban forest by creating tree planting programImplementing a tree planting program to expand the urban forest can have a number of beneficial results for the greater Anaheim community. Healthy mature trees can break up heat islands, decrease flooding from stormwater runoff, absorb carbon dioxide and shade buildings leading to reduction in energy use and costs. Large areas of asphalt and concrete trap the heat of the sun and reflect it back into the environment, contributing to smog, global warming and higher energy costs. Planting additional street and park trees provides the shading necessary to limit these harmful effects. Educating residents on the care and maintenance of their trees can help to reduce pests and increase overall tree canopy in the City. Tree planting programs can also include such benefits as providing free trees for residents to plant and the issuance of permits to allow residents to plant trees in adjacent rights-of-way. Programs can get Anaheim residents involved in their community as opportunities arise for volunteers to help remove invasive species, plant native trees and help care for trees in the City’s parks and public places. Transform excess right-of-way to include parkway landscape areasLandscaping in medians, sidewalks and other rights-of-way enhances the livability of the Anaheim urban environment. The addition of trees, shrubs, groundcovers and landscape amenities can transform excess rights-of-ways where people walk, shop and meet in many ways. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, landscaping also provides environmental benefits such as increased shading, decreased flooding from stormwater runoff, and increased habitat for urban animals and insects. More extensive greening often contributes to greater usage by pedestrians and bicycle riders as well as a more positive association with the route and surrounding community, both of which are goals of the Anaheim OUTDOORS connectivity plan.
 Seal Beach Blvd, Los Alamitos
Create plant and animal habitat in underutilized land areas where appropriateThere are many opportunities within Anaheim's urban environment to create habitat and areas for animals and insects to forage. Underutilized land areas such as street closures in quiet streets, empty lots, park perimeters, and canyon slopes can provide appropriate space for naturalized landscaping. Trees should be used to allow small birds to rest, to screen and protect moving wildlife and to provide shelter from hot summer temperatures. Shrubs that are dense and/or spikey and offer a range of resources such as seed, nectar, and nesting material should be considered. Maintenance practices should be non-intrusive and take consideration of nesting seasons and other factors specific to the existing flora and fauna. Where habitat areas are created adjacent to trails, residences and businesses, particularly near the hills of East Anaheim, lighting should be provided to discourage predatory animals such as coyotes. Fruit and nut trees should be discouraged in residential areas prone to coytoes; proper tree pruning can also discourage coyotes from foraging.
Enhance storm water management
Identify improvements for key vacant/underutilized parcelsSeveral vacant/underutilized parcels throughout Anaheim have been selected as prime locations for improvements. Detailed plans for enhancement of these focus areas have been created so that when the opportunity arises, they are in the best possible position for receiving funding. These areas were chosen due to their ability to fulfill several goals of the Anaheim OUTDOORS Connectivity plan.
Look for opportunities for roof gardens and/or solar panels on civic/public buildingsThe placement of roof gardens and solar panels on municipal buildings is a growing trend in cities around the nation. Solar panels are an environmentally and economically responsible improvement that cities can partake in. Many funding opportunities exist for these types of improvements, making them attainable in the current economic climate. Roof gardens can help reduce the overall heat absorption of a building, thus reducing energy consumption. Small-scale food production can occur at these sites, and building inhabitants can join in gardening efforts as well as in consuming the fruits of their labor. Establish landscape palette and standards that include native and California-friendly plantsUtilizing a standardized list of plant species within the City of Anaheim enhances the character of the community through continuity of form, texture and color. The list also establishes which plants are compatible with the climate and appropriate for the level of maintenance that the City wishes to provide. The Anaheim OUTDOORS Connectivity plan encourages the use of native and California-friendly plants, and includes an extensive list of plants that are appropriate for different situations such as residential, streetscape, commercial or wildland.
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 Promenade, Anaheim  Dixieanne Avenue, Sacramento |
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