Eco-Journal, v.17.5 Nov/Dec 2007Eco-Journal, v.17.5 Nov/Dec 2007
Spence Neighbours sign in for community clean up. Photo by Kathryn MacKenzie
By Krysty McIntyre and Anke Kirch
It´s been a hard day at the office for Joe, who works in the city´s downtown core. After being stuck in traffic for far too long driving to his home in the nearby Spence Neighbourhood, he remembers why he really ought to walk to work instead of driving; he needs serenity, and badly! Besides, he chides himself, driving rather than walking or taking the bus isn´t healthy for the environment. Joe takes a moment to change into some more comfortable clothes, a pair of sneakers, and stops at the computer. He has a query, a question—where can he find the serenity he needs so desperately when he lives so close to the city´s centre?
Joe types an important address into his internet browser and a Green Map of the Spence Neighbourhood fills his computer screen. He scans the icons and searches for what he needs most right now. Dog park? No. Eco-friendly playground a block away? No.
Ahh, there it is—a green and white icon with the location of a nearby bird sanctuary catches his eye. Setting off on his quest, Joe is about to indulge in a few moments of bliss—close to nature, and surprisingly close to home!
What exactly is a Green Map?
Green Maps are maps of large and small places, from whole cities and large regions, to individual communities and neighbourhoods. Each Green Map identifies places that mean something to the people living in the mapped area. Some locations might have social significance, such as a place to put posters for meetings or yard sales. Other places on the map might be bike or walking paths, or places where wildlife gather and can be observed in peace and quiet.
Green Maps are an opportunity for existing organizations in a neighbourhood to make the people more aware of what is going on around them. With links to community gardens and cultural centres, Green Maps become community directories that everyone can access. Categories include Culture and Design, Fauna, Flora, Land and Water, Renewable Resources, and Toxic Spots. Also available on a Green Map are the locations for Green Mobility, Infrastructure, Conserver Economy, and Information and Social Resources. At first, some of these terms might sound confusing. Conserver Economy actually identifies places such as fair trade shops or farmers´ markets. Culture and Design icons help to identify places on a Green Map that might have historical significance, such as locations for the Spence Neighbourhood walking tours. And very important as well are Information and Social Resources.
Detail of the Spence district
Imagine a map that will have an icon for every community centre, aboriginal centre or women´s resource centre that´s available in your own neighbourhood. Imagine how powerful that information can be once it is available to everyone! Using a system of icons to identify different types of categories or sites, a Green Map could help Winnipeg residents make informed and environmentally and socially responsible lifestyle choices.
The Winnipeg-Manitoba Green Map is currently being created and published with the joint efforts of the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Eco-Network. Professor David van Vliet in the Department of City Planning has established a detailed list of places and a menu explaining each of the different categories. These are available at http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/greenmap (click on the “Winnipeg Places’ tab).
Geographic Information System interactive map
The Manitoba Eco-Network´s GIS/Mapping Centre is currently in the process of converting this information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will display all places as an interactive map. This map will be available on-line and show the places in front of a backdrop of City data which includes streets, parks, natural areas, recycling depots, bike and walking paths, transit stops, libraries, schools, community centres and much more. Layers can be toggled on and off and people can zoom into and out of the map. Once a working map has been published, the Manitoba Eco-Network will consult member groups regarding contents and future directions.
To add further relevance to the Winnipeg—Manitoba Green Map, a partnership with the Spence Neighbourhood Association was established in the spring of 2007. This is a pilot project with the goal to create a detailed community Green Map. Place suggestions for the Spence Neighbourhood Green Map have been gathered during various community meetings and through a wall-size map that has been posted at 615 Ellice Ave and Magnus Eliason Recreational Centre on 430 Langside St. Passers-by can place sticky notes onto the map to nominate places. As places have been added, the digital Spence Neighbourhood Green Map has been continuously updated. Soon this map will be available interactively on-line as described above.
Green Maps are community tools and we will invite everyone to participate in this exciting project. You will soon be able to contribute your ideas for what sorts of locations and organizations should be included on the Green Map through our interactive website. Keep your eyes open for our announcement on the Manitoba Eco-Network´s website.
We wish to thank our funders, the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Thomas Sill Foundation and Assiniboine Credit Union for their support. We would also like to thank the City of Winnipeg for their donation of data and our volunteers for their donations of time and expertise.