City leaders celebrate new ADA-accessible boardwalk at Dunwoody Nature Center – Rough Draft Atlanta

Report on the Dunwoody Nature Center Boardwalk and Wetlands Restoration Project

Introduction

The City of Dunwoody has announced the completion of a significant environmental and community infrastructure project at the Dunwoody Nature Center. The project involved the construction of a new boardwalk and a comprehensive wetlands restoration initiative. A ceremony to commemorate the project’s completion is scheduled for Monday, November 10, at 11 a.m. The initiative represents a substantial investment in sustainable infrastructure, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The project directly enhances community access to green public spaces, a key target of SDG 11. By creating safe, inclusive, and accessible infrastructure, the project contributes to a more sustainable urban environment. The emphasis on accessibility also addresses SDG 10 by reducing inequalities for individuals with disabilities.

• Enhanced Accessibility: The new boardwalk is fully ADA-compliant, ensuring equitable access to the nature center’s playgrounds and educational areas.
• Resilient Infrastructure: The structure has been elevated above the 100-year floodplain, improving its resilience to extreme weather events and reconnecting the wetland and stream ecosystems.
• Community Amenities: The boardwalk is longer and wider than its predecessor and includes new seating areas and observation decks, improving the visitor experience.

SDG 15 (Life on Land) & SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

A primary objective of the project was the restoration of local ecosystems, which supports SDG 15 by protecting and restoring terrestrial habitats and halting biodiversity loss. These efforts concurrently improve water quality, contributing to the objectives of SDG 6.

• Habitat Restoration: Invasive plant species were removed from the wetlands and replaced with native vegetation to restore the native forested wetland habitat.
• Streambank Stabilization: The banks of Wildcat Creek were stabilized through the addition of rock and the installation of a log vane, which directs water flow to the center of the stream and reduces erosion.
• Improved Water Quality: The restoration of the wetlands and stabilization of the streambanks are expected to enhance local water quality and increase habitat for wildlife.

SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The project provides new platforms for environmental learning and promotes well-being through engagement with nature, aligning with SDG 4 and SDG 3.

• Educational Facilities: The boardwalk incorporates designated outdoor classrooms, providing new opportunities for hands-on study of aquatic resources.
• Public Engagement with Nature: The improved infrastructure offers a sustainable and accessible way for the public to connect with the natural environment, promoting physical and mental well-being.

Project Financials and Funding

The total construction cost for the boardwalk and restoration project amounted to $1.72 million. The funding was secured through a combination of municipal and grant-based sources.

1. City Stormwater Reserve: A significant portion of the funding was allocated from the City of Dunwoody’s stormwater reserve fund.
2. EPD 319(h) Grant: The project was supported by a $600,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Division’s 319(h) program, which targets nonpoint source pollution.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article mentions the creation of educational facilities within the nature center.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The project focuses on restoring wetlands and streambanks to improve water quality.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The development provides accessible green public space for the community.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – A core theme of the article is the restoration of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, including habitat restoration and removal of invasive species.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article details the funding partnership that made the project possible.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The article states that the new boardwalk includes “outdoor classrooms for studying Dunwoody’s aquatic resources,” directly contributing to education for sustainable development.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The project’s efforts to restore wetlands and stabilize the banks of Wildcat Creek are explicitly mentioned as actions that “improve water quality.” The article notes the project involved work to “stabilized the banks of Wildcat Creek by adding rock on the water’s edge” and “removed invasive plant species from existing wetlands.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The article highlights that the “new boardwalk is higher, longer, and wider than the old one, proving ADA access to playgrounds at one end,” which directly addresses the goal of creating accessible public spaces for people with disabilities.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The entire project is an example of this target, with the article stating its purpose is to “reconnecting the wetland and stream ecosystems” and “restore the native forested wetland habitat.”
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The article mentions that the restoration efforts “increase habitat for wildlife,” which is a direct action towards this target.
• Target 15.8: Introduce measures to prevent and reduce the impact of invasive alien species. The article explicitly states that work crews “removed invasive plant species from existing wetlands” as part of the restoration.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project’s funding model, described as being “funded through the city’s stormwater reserve and an EPD 319(h) grant of $600,000,” demonstrates a public-public partnership to achieve sustainability goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Indicator for Target 4.7: The creation of “outdoor classrooms” serves as a qualitative indicator that education for sustainable development is being integrated into community resources.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Indicator for Target 6.6: While not providing a quantitative area, the article implies progress through the completion of specific actions: the stabilization of Wildcat Creek’s banks and the restoration of wetlands. The improvement in “water quality” is a stated outcome that can be measured.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Indicator for Target 11.7: The provision of “ADA access” is a direct, qualitative indicator of progress towards creating inclusive and accessible public spaces. The new boardwalk itself is a physical indicator of this progress.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Indicators for Targets 15.1, 15.5, and 15.8: The article implies several indicators of progress:
  • The physical act of restoring the wetland habitat (“planted native vegetation”).
  • The removal of “invasive plant species” from the area.
  • The stated outcome of an “increase habitat for wildlife.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Indicator for Target 17.17: The article provides a direct quantitative indicator of partnership funding. The project received an “EPD 319(h) grant of $600,000” towards a “total construction cost was $1.72 million,” showing the financial value of the partnership.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: roughdraftatlanta.com