University of Oregon Sustainable City Year

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https://hdl.handle.net/1794/10380

The Sustainable City Year program is a partnership of a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and students with one city in Oregon each year. Coursework in disciplines including design, planning, arts, ecology, journalism, engineering, business, and public policy focus on assisting that city with its sustainability-oriented goals and projects. The Sustainable City Year faculty and students work with city staff and other partners, through a variety of studio projects and service learning courses, to 1) provide students with a real world project to investigate; 2) apply their training; and 3) help a local city transition to a more sustainable and livable future.

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    Pump Up Salem
    (University of Oregon, 2024-12) Schillinger, Attila; Bullentini, Kaitlyn; Clifford, Avery; Duda, Nicole; Horvath, Michael; Norton, Ella; Knight, Kayleigh; Plumley, Madison
    Students were tasked with the opportunity to design a campaign to educate Salem residents on heat pumps and their benefits to support the city’s sustainability initiatives. The overarching goal of the campaign was to increase awareness of heat pumps and an understanding of their benefits in Salem. To achieve this goal, students developed a strategy broken up into two parts: a storytelling community approach and enabling residents to overcome common barriers. Part one focuses on highlighting early adopters of heat pumps within the Salem community and using peer-to-peer communication with simple language to help educate others on the benefits of heat pumps. Part two focuses on overcoming common barriers in heat pump adoption, such as cost, by using action-oriented language and establishing relationships with potential partners like local banks.
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    Recommendations for Solar Panel Initiatives at Geer Park In Salem, Oregon
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Taylor, Zoe; Russo, Andrew
    The University of Oregon’s Green Cities students focused on creating innovative and sustainable solar panel proposals for Salem’s Geer Park, located near the Oregon State Penitentiary, which has been historically underfunded and undervalued. The class focused on addressing the city’s questions concerning solar capacity, alignment with sustainable infrastructure objectives, and potential for replication in other locations. By organizing into three focus areas: 1. Solar Park Lighting 2. Community Solar Pavilion 3. Solar Awnings Students conducted a robust exploration of design possibilities. Drawing on diverse academic backgrounds, students enriched their designs with insights from various fields. Through access to diverse resources, including case studies, guest lectures and academic journals, students tailored design ideas for Geer Park’s unique context. The resulting proposals not only aim to enhance community engagement and reduce grid reliance but also offer potential synergies with broader sustainability initiatives. Through their efforts, students strived to transform Geer Park into a resilient and inclusive public space, increasing community engagement amidst the park’s existing underutilization.
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    GIS Analyses of Walkability in Salem, Oregon Volume 2
    (2024) Wessel, Ava; Kohler, Nick
    Appendix of student final projects
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    Safe and Connected Salem: Bicycle Transportation Recommendations
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Schlossberg, Marc; Taylor, Zoe; Sunberg, Nicolas; Scherer, Anna
    The City of Salem’s goal is to increase bike mobility, thereby increasing street safety in the process. The City’s comprehensive code outlines ambitious goals aimed at reducing pollution, ensuring safe travel, and developing multi-modal transportation networks that cater to all community members. In pursuit of these objectives, students in the Bicycle Transportation course conducted intensive research and proposed innovative recommendations for designing transportation routes that accommodate various modes of travel. Student research highlights the potential for significant improvements in bike mobility, which can lead to increased street safety and reduced vehicular emissions. Students studied specific areas for potential improvements and interacted with local community advocates to identify where best practice research and innovative ideas would be most beneficial. Students spent months curating their ideal plans to allow for better bicycle movement within Salem. Their recommendations, derived from comprehensive research and analysis, suggest enhancements to bicycle infrastructure that aim to promote sustainable urban mobility, boost public health, and stimulate local economic activity while considering cost, use of street, community needs, and more.
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    Transitional Housing Futures: Urban Design Proposals for Delta Park Center
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Larco, Nico; Lillard, Lora; Raggett, Mark; Hodge, Nick
    Students in a graduate urban design studio based at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus were asked to reimage the Delta Park Center in Portland, Oregon, with a primary emphasis on developing transitional housing solutions. The project aimed to address the area’s lack of identity and inadequate transportation infrastructure while creating a vibrant and sustainable urban space. The class investigated historical and cultural contexts, conducted thorough site analyses, and developed proposals to enhance residential density, reanimate public spaces, and integrate sustainable practices. Key findings from the student projects include the need for increased residential density to address Portland’s housing crisis and the reactivation of public spaces to foster community engagement. Central to these proposals was the integration of transitional housing to support vulnerable populations and provide a pathway to stable living conditions. The proposals emphasized the importance of sustainable urban design, leveraging transit connectivity, and green infrastructure to create a more livable and environmentally friendly district. The course underscored the value of collaborative planning, involving stakeholders and community members to ensure that the projects meet local needs and promote social equity. The recommendations from the studio’s research highlight the potential for the Delta Park Center to transform into a dynamic and inclusive urban neighborhood, benefiting both current residents and future generations, with a particular focus on providing safe and supportive transitional housing.
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    SCYP Salem Compilation Report
    (2024) SCYP Staff
    This compilation report details the collaborative efforts of the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) partnership with the City of Salem during the 2021-2022 academic year. This partnership involved over 20 projects across five schools and colleges, 14 faculty members, and over 350 students addressing key strategic priority areas identified by the Salem City Council. Projects ranged from public budgeting and climate action public relations campaigns to transportation policy and urban planning. The report summarizes the SCYP partnership to provide the City of Salem practical recommendations and innovative solutions to help the community tackle its challenges, leveraging the latest academic insights and the energy of university students to drive forward a more sustainable future.
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    Salem City Spin
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Peeples, Jack; Ruth, Xander; Wright, John
    This campaign aims to encourage Salemites to reduce their reliance on personal vehicles and instead utilize active transportation in the form of biking. Shifting from cars to biking as one’s primary mode of transportation reduces traffic congestion, lowers carbon emissions, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
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    Equity-Centered Research Methods for Oregon Communities
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Bartholomei, Mason; Bean, Wyatt; Belcher, Ruth; Lucero, Augustin Olivares; Riogeist, Jasper; Severeid, Emily; Ngo, Nicole
    Like many states across the United States, Oregon has a history of using transportation, land use, and housing tools inequitably, which has directed and concentrated benefits to the privileged and harms to underserved communities. Oregon’s past included restrictions on who could own land, redlining and exclusionary zoning, prohibiting more affordable types of housing, and unjust siting of massive highway projects. In recent years, Oregon has begun to acknowledge and take steps to address these inequities. The state’s Land Conservation and Development Commission has updated its Transportation Planning Rules and adopted rules to create and implement the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) program. CFEC aims to reduce climate pollution, increase transportation and housing options, and promote equitable land use planning outcomes. The program also requires Oregon’s metropolitan cities and counties to engage in a major equity analysis when conducting a major update of their Transportation System Plans (Oregon Administrative Rule 660-012-0135(3)). Public Administration graduate students researched documentation and materials to develop a methodology that could assist with completing tasks required by sections (a) and (b) of that rule: (a) Assess, document, acknowledge, and address where current and past land use, transportation, and housing policies and effects of climate change have harmed or are likely to harm underserved populations; (b) Assess, document, acknowledge, and address where current and past racism in land use, transportation, and housing has harmed or is likely to harm underserved populations.
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    Open-Source Oakridge: Exploring Open-Source Software and Creating a Buildable Lands Survey for the City of Oakridge
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Haefker, Finn; Yang, Yizhao
    A team of students in Advanced GIS conducted a two part project to support GIS development needs and application for the City of Oakridge. First, students conducted a comparative analysis of four leading open-source Geographic Information Systems (GIS) products. Given that Oakridge uses open-source GIS software for their planning work, staff sought clarification on what software would best suit City needs. During the research process, students created an evaluation framework based on literature review findings to score each software program. Students then created a Qualtrics survey targeting University of Oregon students who had experience with GIS software then scored the software again based off the survey results. Students then scored these software again based off the survey results. The survey results were expected among students and City staff and reaffirmed the City’s initial software choice. Although the survey could not provide a fully accurate comparison, due to its sample size and timeframe, it did provide valuable insight on student experiences with other GIS software. Although not applicable to the City of Oakridge, the survey also highlighted potential disconnects if used in an academic setting. The second component of this project created a buildable lands survey, which could provide City staff insight on development-feasibility and assist with densification efforts in the future. This report includes data on housing insecurity, which students researched before conducting their mapping analysis. Students then established a series of criteria based on their research, information provided by the City of Oakridge, and data that was manually created in Arc-GIS pro. Students applied these criteria as separate layers, which eventually yielded a final map showcasing parcels that could be suitable for various levels of densification. The total acreage of suitable parcels was very encouraging as it exceeded Oakridge staff’s initial request to establish at lease 60 acres of parcels that would be suitable for densification.
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    Leveling the Playing Field: Designing Assessment Tools for Equity in Salem’s Parks
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Stapleton, Ellee; Cole, Nathan
    This document describes and contains the work of students in LA 407 / 507 Equitable Urban Parks with Professor Stapleton at the University of Oregon. Students created three assessment tools for the City of Salem to assess the current conditions of their parks. The report covers the purpose of the tools and how they were created. The tools are in Appendix C: Tool Protocols, Materials, and Instruments. The City of Salem manages 90 parks and is currently updating its citywide park system master plan (master plan), last updated in 2013, that guides development and maintenance of these parks. The master plan is updated about once a decade (City of Salem 2024). Some residents of Salem are concerned that the distribution of parks and funding in the City is inequitable, and the City would like to address this by conducting an equity analysis of their parks system and including an equity component in the new master plan. The work of Equitable Urban Parks follows Professor Stapleton’s Spatial Justice Seminar, in which students investigated if parks were equitably distributed throughout the City (Cassell and Donnelly 2024). In Equitable Urban Parks, students created assessment tools that can be used to compare conditions and resources across different parks in the City. The findings from these two courses offer complementary explorations of park equity with the Spatial Justice Seminar considering equity through the lens of distribution and Equitable Urban Parks looking in more detail at the qualities of specific park resources.
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    Salem Parks Equity & Service Area Report
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Cassel, Katie; Donnelly, Caitlin; Stapleton, Ellee
    In response to the City of Salem’s goal of identifying park service area delineation methods that would facilitate a more equitable and accessible park system for residents, Spatial Justice Seminar students analyzed equity and delineated potential park service areas in Salem. Throughout the term, students explored what spatial equity meant, reviewed precedent studies, completed observational-based research or spatial based research on Salem’s Park system, and then provided recommendations based on their findings. The spatial methods observed in the report are Euclidian distance, travel times, street network analysis using Thiessen polygons, and overlaying data. The nonspatial methods observed are surveys, intercept surveys, demographic data, and benchmarking. The most applicable precedent studies include the cities of Los Angeles, California, Fort Collins, Colorado, Eugene, Oregon, and Bellevue, Washington. Precedent studies integrated both spatial and non-spatial methods of data collection to have a comprehensive understanding of disparities in their park system.
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    Engaged Journalism: Listening to Salem's Hispanic Community
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Duong-Tran, Joshua; DeVigal, Andrew
    Working with the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) and the City of Salem, this class sought to understand how information flows through the Hispanic community in Salem. This Engaged Journalism course conducted a survey, facilitated a conversation with 80 students, and visited Salem to better understand community information needs. Recommendations support greater information access for these communities via collaborations with local entities. Divided into age groups ranging from under 18 to over 65, with the largest demographic being the under 18 category, 36% of residents indicated that sharing information among coworkers and classmates constituted the primary channel for learning about events that held significance for them or their community. Participants generally gravitated to personal networks and social media when locating community information. The survey revealed that when an event occurred within their community, most residents turned to their personal networks, such as Facebook groups, and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for further insights. Half of the participants mentioned K-12 education as the prime issue of importance. Based on these findings, the Engaged Journalism class compiled the following categories of recommendations to better meet the information needs of Salem’s Hispanic community: media literacy enhancement via local news collaboration; short-form content distribution through Instagram and TikTok; and bilingual resource guides distributed in popular third spaces (community centers, schools, etc.); centralized radio collaborations exploring pivotal topics distributed on bilingual platforms; and local civic information community gatherings hosted in popular third-party spaces.
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    GIS Analyses of Walkability in Salem, Oregon Volume 1
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Wessel, Ava; Kohler, Nick
    Driven by a shared commitment to improve environmental health, community wellbeing, and accessibility, students in the Advanced GIS class collaborated with the City of Salem to develop data-driven strategies for urban improvement. Walkability, a concept that refers to the safety and comfort of pedestrian infrastructure, serves as a link between both social considerations and urban design principles. Improvements in walkability can be associated with decreasing traffic congestion and carbon emissions, while improving pedestrians’ overall quality of life. In winter 2024, students created recommendations based on spatial patterns gathered from the City of Salem’s geodatabase. Using datasets ranging from transportation networks, demographic makeup, and public facilities, students addressed three specific aspects of walkability in Salem: 1. Public Transportation Core Networks analyzed datasets with the intent to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of Salem’s public transportation. 2. Equity Focus Areas analyzed pedestrian infrastructure trends to increase accessibility in a lower-income area of Salem. 3. Climate-Friendly Areas created recommendations to improve pedestrian safety within Salem’s expanding mixed-use infrastructure downtown. Student recommendations aimed to elevate Salem’s walkability score and foster community livability, sustainability, and social cohesion. By prioritizing public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure, the City of Salem can encourage a reduction in carbon emissions and an increase in walking and cycling. The shift towards sustainable transportation can help tackle urban design challenges such as traffic congestion and design effectiveness. This report highlights some of the key findings and suggestions to improve walkability, contributing to a more vibrant and sustainable urban environment.
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    Minto-Brown Island Park Boardwalk
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Allan, Scott; Jacobson, Caitlin; Seifert, Colby; Skillin, Julia; Sosa, Anna; Zaikoski, John; McLaughlin, Patrick
    Located along the Willamette River near downtown Salem, Oregon, Minto-Brown Island Park is subject to extended flood events that limit pedestrian access during wet periods throughout the year. Beaver dams divert and pool water which can leave the trails submerged. Salem’s seasonally wet climate, in addition to the surge in river levels due to snow melt, and the resurgence of beavers necessitates a design alternative extending the usability of the flooded trails during these times. The City of Salem has partnered with a Portland State University Capstone team to reach a design solution for this problem.
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    Cases for Age-Friendly Planning And Policy
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Webster, Brian; Li, Alex
    The City of Salem and its largest resource for older people, Center 50+, are in the process of planning for a momentous shift in the City’s demographic composition: citizens are getting older. Salem’s rapidly aging population necessitates a comprehensive approach to creating and maintaining an age-friendly city. This seminar class was tasked with finding, researching, and evaluating successful cases in age-friendly planning and public policy. By learning from programs that have made other cities more accessible for their older population, Salem can ensure that it does the best it can for its older community members. The student research highlights the critical importance of fostering independence and community engagement among older residents. By prioritizing these areas, Salem can significantly enhance the quality of life for its older residents and solidify its position as a welcoming community for all ages. Across the students’ research and resulting case studies, key themes arose: • The need to support aging in place through accessible and affordable housing, robust transportation options, and information environments that work for older people • Effective collaboration among government, non-profit organizations, and community members • Methods to effectively maximize finite volunteer hours • Outreach that meets older people where they are both physically and technologically This report synthesizes the lessons from student analysis of successful cases into takeaways for the City of Salem and its citizens. By implementing the recommendations from this course and utilizing the analysis to shape ongoing programs targeted toward older people, Salem can support its aging population and become a thriving age-friendly city.
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    Salem Parks Foundation Board Development & Recruitment Strategy
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Aguinaga, Parker; Hauthe, Quinne; Johnson, Alexia; Lopez, Mariah; Lun, Sian Dim; Mason, Dyana; Fracchia, Elena; Thompson, Kim
    Parks Foundations are a natural asset to a thriving park community, given their unique ability to support the government through nonprofit funding activities, while still supporting community wellness. This is particularly true as governments allocate funding to different initiatives, and departments seek outside funding and support to continue community-focused programming. In Winter 2024, the Salem Parks Foundation (SPF) requested that this nonprofit consultancy group explore volunteerism, diversity, and board recruitment. Focus was placed on Board Development and Board Recruitment in order to strengthen the Foundation for future growth and development into diversity outreach and volunteer initiatives. In order to research these areas, we relied on secondary literature, a review of SPF materials, interviews with SPF and other Oregon Parks foundations, and finally a survey sent out to the Neighborhood Associations. Over the course of our research, we received a wide variety of responses, both from parties invested in SPF, and from those who had never even heard of the organization. We found that SPF has the opportunity to develop stronger processes to support a nonprofit foundation, from board development and governance, to strategy for recruitment and community outreach. To address these areas, we developed a comprehensive plan to revitalize the organization, and allow them to focus on longer term projects and goals.
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    Recommendations for Increased Electric Vehicle Access and Adoption in Salem, Oregon
    (University of Oregon, 2024) Prazak, Renate; Li, Alex
    The City of Salem sought recommendations on how to increase Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and access. Recognizing the importance of a well-rounded and evidence-based approach, the student teams employed a variety of methodologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis, literature reviews, case studies, and interviews with key stakeholders. Based on this research, the students proposed multiple recommendations for how the City of Salem could increase EV charging infrastructure and: • Ensure charging stations are conveniently located and accessible to all residents • Emphasize the importance of public education programs and outreach efforts • Educate the public about the benefits of electric vehicles, how to use charging stations, and the environmental impact of EVs, which can help dispel misconceptions and foster greater acceptance and adoption of EVs • Highlight the need for increased funding for more EV charging stations and incentives In summary, students provided the City of Salem with a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing EV charging infrastructure and access. Student findings underscored the importance of expanding charging infrastructure, educating the public, and securing adequate funding and incentives to support Salem’s transition to a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation system.
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    Green Cities Artificial Intelligence
    (University of Oregon, 2023-12) Stephens, Ric
    In an era defined by rapid urbanization, the effective planning and management of cities have become paramount to ensure sustainable development, efficient resource allocation, and enhanced quality of life for residents. Traditional methods of urban planning and management are grappling with the complexities and challenges presented by modern cities. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI), a disruptive technology that holds immense potential to revolutionize the way cities are planned, designed, and operated. The primary aim of this report is to provide an in-depth exploration of the multifaceted role that Artificial Intelligence plays in modern city planning and management. Through a comprehensive analysis of key AI applications, case studies, challenges, and ethical considerations, the report aims to provide resources for urban planners, City staff, and elected officials responsible for community planning and development. These include a model City policy, draft informational public meeting format, AI software and applications, implementation actions, AI timeline, glossary, and research references. This report represents the cumulative efforts of many participants and is sponsored by the City of Salem and Sustainable City Year Program. The Green Cities AI project website is at: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/artificialintelligence/. As cities continue to evolve into complex ecosystems, the integration of Artificial Intelligence stands as a pivotal force in shaping their trajectories. Through this report, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how AI is transforming the way cities are planned, operated, and experienced. By analyzing the tools, applications, and ethical considerations, we hope to equip policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders with the insights needed to navigate the AI-driven urban landscape effectively and create cities that are not only smart but also sustainable, resilient, and regenerative.
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    Portland Downtown Waterfront Development, Volume 1: Urban Design Proposals
    (University of Oregon, 2023-06) Hoff, Isabel; Larco, Nico; Lora, Lillard; Mark, Raggett
    Students in a graduate urban design studio based at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus were asked to create urban design redevelopment proposals for downtown Portland. Students began the term by analyzing the site as a team of eight groups assessing existing building typologies and dimensions, transportation infrastructure, environmental conditions, zoning requirements, history of the place and culture, physical aspects of the site, relevant urban design precedents, and by creating base drawings from which the class could then build upon throughout the term (see appendix for this analysis). The class was then divided into six groups, each of which developed an urban design development proposal for the same downtown site. The students worked together to draw from downtown Portland’s existing qualities while addressing challenges by proposing designs that could make the city’s center a more welcoming and vibrant area.
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    Portland Downtown Waterfront Development, Volume 2, Appendix: Site Analysis and Logistics
    (2023-06) Hoff, Isabel; Larco, Nico; Lillard, Lora; Raggett, Mark
    Appendix: Site Analysis and Logistics Students in a graduate urban design studio based at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus were asked to create urban design redevelopment proposals for downtown Portland. Students began the term by analyzing the site as a team of eight groups assessing existing building typologies and dimensions, transportation infrastructure, environmental conditions, zoning requirements, history of the place and culture, physical aspects of the site, relevant urban design precedents, and by creating base drawings from which the class could then build upon throughout the term (see appendix for this analysis). The class was then divided into six groups, each of which developed an urban design development proposal for the same downtown site. The students worked together to draw from downtown Portland’s existing qualities while addressing challenges by proposing designs that could make the city’s center a more welcoming and vibrant area.