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  2. G3 Program

Green Streets and Community Open Space

Community open, green space is socially valuable.  Walkable neighborhoods, parks, and open green spaces draw people outside and foster social interactions. Green streets integrate nature into the urban environment and provide a revitalizing contrast to the harsh shape, color, and texture of buildings, and stimulate the senses with their simple color, sound, smell, and motions (Dorward, 1990; Miller, 1997).  Open, green spaces in communities are attractive to prospective buyers and generate multiple economic benefits for local governments, home owners, and businesses. The economic benefits of open, walkable, green spaces play an important role in policy-making decisions about zoning, restrictions on land-use, government purchase of lands for parks and similar initiatives.    

A green street can be a great place for members of the community to meet, interact and enjoy their community.  Designing a green street in conjunction with neighboring community open space opportunities provides socio-economic benefits including an increase in local shopping and dining; ultimately investing in the local economy increases community engagement and instills greater pride in the community as a whole.  

What is Community Open Space?

Open space is any open piece of land that is undeveloped and is accessible to the public.  In your community, there could be many creative opportunities for open space preservation that could help connect the community and revitalize its economy and social connectivity.  Some opportunities for community open space can include:

  • Schoolyards
  • Playgrounds
  • Public seating areas
  • Public plazas
  • Vacant lots
  • Green space (land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation)
    • Parks
    • Community gardens
    • Cemeteries

Using the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Approach

A green street can be a hub for local businesses, parks or community events such as concerts, outdoor exercise (yoga in the town square), outdoor movies or town fairs. Design options can include bike lanes to encourage exercise or safe sidewalks for jogging.  Increasing open space in the adjacent areas by providing nearby parks or community gardens will encourage even more interaction between the community and the green town.  Using a G3 approach and incorporating green streets and open space will:  

  • Enhance neighborhood livability and connectivity
  • Increase community and property values 
  • Enhance pedestrian and bicycle access and safety  
  • Protect valuable surface and groundwater resources
  • Add urban green space and wildlife habitat

Community Open Space Resources

  • Livability Index How livable is your community?

G3 Program

  • The Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Initiative and Approach
  • Learn About Green Streets
  • Green Street Practices
  • Benefits of a Green Street
  • Why You Should Consider Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Your Community
  • Green Jobs in Your Community
  • Green Streets and Community Open Space
  • Getting to Green - Faster and Cheaper
    • Faster, Cheaper, Greener Webcast Series
    • December 2014 Sustainable Financing Forum for Faster, Cheaper, Greener Urban Stormwater Retrofits
      • December 2014 Sustainable Stormwater Financing Forum Summary Notes
    • December 2015 Community-Based Public-Private Partnership (CBP3) Sustainable Stormwater Infrastructure Summit
      • December 2015 CBP3 Sustainable Stormwater Infrastructure Summit Summary Notes
    • Financing Green Infrastructure - Is a Community-Based Public-Private Partnerships (CBP3) Right for You?
      • Prince George's County Maryland Clean Water Partnership
      • Public-Private Partnerships Beneficial for Implementing Green Infrastructure
      • Financing Integrated Green Stormwater Infrastructure
  • Develop Your Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Vision
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Integrated Planning
  • Design and Build Approaches for Green Streets
  • Operation and Maintenance Considerations for Green Infrastructure
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Program
    • Contact Us About the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Program
    • G3 Case Studies
    • G3 Grant Fact Sheets
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Funding Opportunities
  • Green Street, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Webcasts, Podcasts, Blogs, and Listservs
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Guides and Publications
    • Storm Smart Schools
    • Storm Smart Cities
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Webcast Series
  • Modeling Tools that Support the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Approach
  • Greening of Decatur Street
  • CSO130 Green Infrastructure Project
  • Central Louisville Green Infrastructure Partnership
  • Apply to Become a G3 Featured Community
    • G3 Featured Community: The Town of Forest Heights, Maryland
  • Collaborate with Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Partners
  • Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) News Articles
Contact Us About the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Program
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 30, 2025
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