Detroit climbs in Sustainability Rankings
Vacated residential lots become farms in Detroit -- the opposite of what happens in sprawling suburbs
A group called SustainLane recently ranked 50 U.S. cities for their efforts in becoming sustainable.
Detroit jumped up an impressive 12 spots to finish 31st.
Improved biking and walking certainly play a big role in boosting these sustainability rankings. It certainly reinforces the fact that cycling advocates have so many positive reasons to push for our cause. From safety to health, from clear air to sustainability, from kids getting to school and the high cost of fuel, there are a myriad of reasons why cities need to embrace improved biking and walking facilities.
According to SustainLane’s summary for Detroit:
America’s “Motor City” is bearing down on the sustainability throttle: the city’s green engine is heating up and has propelled it up twelve spots in SustainLane’s 2008 rankings. What’s fueling Detroit’s upswing? First and foremost, adaptive reuse of land abandoned from decades of suburban flight. Detroit boasts a thriving community garden network growing on vacant land across the city. Quality-of-life issues are a high priority for Detroit officials, who are planning for more greenways, connecting landmarks and bringing in new businesses. The city has already seen a successful transformation of its formerly-blighted riverfront into a bustling area of parks, plazas, and a five-mile recreation path. Expect to see more greening in the near future: City council president and head of the recently-formed “Green Task Force,” Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., replaced the city’s mayor who resigned early September 2008.
SustainLane also included some short local succcess stories. Detroit’s was of the Dequindre Cut, “It’s Pronounced De-kwin-dur.”
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Tags: Dequindre Cut, Detroit, Ken Cockrel Jr., Sustainability