De La Salle University- Dasmariñas

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas, Cavite

COURSE MODULE No. 4

An Ecotourism Park
T-ARCH 411/411S, 1st Sem SY 2022-23
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Expected Course and Learning Outcomes
CLO4. Formulate an approach or technique in creating an actual urban planning
presentation in terms of diagrammatic and indexed symbol as well as in terms of
visual communication techniques
TLO6. Integrate the principles of cosmic-centered urban planning such ecosystem balanced
planning attitude, socio-cultural and vernacular knowledge sensitive approach;
sustainability and food security approaches; ‘redevelopment ability’ concepts;
universal, multi-racial, and multicultural community concept.

Gospel Reading

Gospel – Luke 21:1-4

1
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury
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and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
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He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
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for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty,
has offered her whole livelihood.”

St. John the Baptist de la Salle, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.

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Course Content

AN ECOLOGICAL PARK
What is an ecological park?
An ecological park is a recreational green space which is characterized by its special care
of vegetation, ecosystems and the species that inhabit it. It aims to protect the ecosystems, to raise
awareness in the population about the importance of preserving the environment and to create
research settings to raise environmental and technical knowledge of animals, plants and various
ecosystems.
Ecological parks reflect a holistic and integrated vision of the earth, thus allowing all of
the landscape potentially to have ecological value. They are conceived as part of an integrated
urban landscape; therefore, they can help solve larger urban and ecological problems. They use
sustainable design, construction and management practices to protect the natural resources and
improve wildlife habitat
Ecological parks aim at self-sufficiency. They rely on native species to reduce the need for
human intervention. Open meadows may be planted with a mix of native grasses and allowed to
grow to full height to provide habitat for birds, bees and insects. Composts may be elevated to the
status of an aesthetic by managing the piles of organic matter from park leaf and branch debris to
develop fascinating patterns and provide subject matter for fine-art photographers and painters.
Structures may be of recycled or less energy making use of solar heating and natural cooling and
ventilation. Restaurants serve organic produce from the park’s own vegetable gardens. Parking
lots are minimal, and when necessary, they are paved with permeable material such as open paves
that allow grass and plants to grow through in honeycomb patterns. Pathways for foot traffic may
be paved to accommodate roller skating, bicycling and wheelchairs, but its edges may use
combination of crushed gravel, wood timbers or chips for aesthetic and kinesthetic benefit.
Eco Park Principles
1. Maximize ecological balance
The ecological value and integrity of all environmental site features and processes are
maintained and maximized. This applies to both the natural features such as natural wetlands,
meadows, valley lands, forests and environmentally engineered structures such as constructed
wetlands, green roofs, bioswales, rain gardens, stormwater management ponds. This principle can
be achieved through protection, management, rehabilitation and/or design.

2. Provide opportunities for social services

There are many opportunities for passive, social, recreational, health and
cultural/community activities, programs and/or services that utilize natural and environmentally
sustainable mechanisms. Some examples of them are trail systems, picnic and seating areas, game
tables, art or cultural displays, natural amphitheaters, fitness equipment, community gardens and
natural playgrounds.
3. Make nature visible
Making nature visible through experiential design can provide a way for visitors to
reconnect with nature by creating experiences within the park that allow visitors to feel part of the
nature and reconnect with the ecological systems nature provides. This could be achieved by
providing resting spots, natural playgrounds, nature-based playgrounds, natural or environmental
sculptures or art along trails. Signage may be included to direct visitors in activities, or educates
them on the natural systems they are interacting with.
4. Design with nature
The design, construction, and maintenance of the site minimizes environmentally
destructive impacts by integrating itself with living process. This principle can be reflected through
the use of natural or recycled materials to construct equipment, applying permeable pavement in
parking lots, installing a bioswale and/or rain garden to maintain water quality, and increase water
retention from street/trail runoff. This principle should be reflected through site processes and
operations such as keeping natural materials (leaves, fallen logs, soil) on site by repurposing it
through natural decomposition or creating an onsite composting program to collect compost from
visitors or large events to be used for onsite plantings.
5. Integrate with the surrounding community
Examples of integration
Physical Lens
- Create a more gradual transition from the natural to urban landscape through
streetscaping and tree plantings
- Connected trail network
- Easily accessible by transit
- Accessible by biking and walking
- Providing bike racks
Environmental Lens
- Maintaining and building connections within and between ecological systems
and processes such as wildlife crossings, rehabilitation of channelized streams,
removing trails or boundaries between two habitat types
- Expanding natural features and utilizing utility corridors, streetscapes, city
gardens and green infrastructure to build natural corridors and help connect Eco
Spaces to each other.
Social/Cultural Lens
- Providing accessible use and space for events, programs and classes.
- Picnic/family areas, BBQ’s outdoor stoves or campfire
- Partnerships with neighboring institutions such as hospitals, school boards,
research institutes, senior homes and community organizations for novel use of
space such as pop ups, art displays, community events, festivals,
programs/classes and research
Economic Lens
- Providing local businesses to take stewards of Eco spaces by adopting a park
- Providing opportunities for business to showcase novel green technologies.
6. Support innovation
Technology has become an integral part of the human landscape, therefore finding
opportunities to integrate technological access through sustainable means must be supported, such
as WIFI, electrical outlets, and lighting sourced by renewable energy. Technological support can
also come in the form of apps that relate Eco spaces, such as an interactive map of Eco Spaces and
trails, or an app that provides activities that engage people outdoors such as geocaching.
7. Reflect local identity
Eco Spaces must consider and reflect the cultural and demographic identity and social
needs of the local community. For example, an Eco Space close to an arts hub populated by a
diverse and young demographic could have sites that exhibits art work from local and multi-
cultural artists and include design elements that inspire and accommodate creative expression such
as areas to lounge and relax, tables and surfaces to work on, an amphitheater for performances,
strategically placed seating areas overlooking vistas or nooks nestled in unique settings.
Benefits of Ecological Parks
1. Economic Benefits
Parks provide a great benefit to citizens, both those who live nearby and tourists. In addition
to the many environmental benefits, creating well-planned parks and preserving sufficient land for
them can generate financial returns that are often many times greater than the money initially
invested into the project, even when maintenance costs are factored in.
Proximity to parks also increases property value, thereby increasing property tax revenues.
Parks can also draw visitors from near and far, bringing tourism revenue to local
restaurants, snack shops and stores. They can also host festivals and events that can bring
additional boosts to the local economy.
Parks decrease health costs and support productivity, both through encouraging exercise
and reducing air pollution.
Vegetation can provide protection against flooding and water pollution, thereby preventing
damage to properties.
2. Environmental Benefits
The variety of living things in a municipality depends in large part on the quality of parks,
forests, backyards and farmlands. When these areas are designed to minimize fragmentation from
roads, and link to other green spaces, they are more capable of benefitting people, wildlife,
environmental quality and the economy.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, just one tree can generate $31,250 worth of oxygen,
provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water and control $31,250
worth of soil erosion over a 50-year span. So planting more native trees and other vegetation in a
sustainable landscape can protect and enhance environmental quality.
3. Health and Safety Benefits.
Parks can improve the general mood and attitude of a person. Studies have found that
moving in green spaces lowers frustration and increases brain activity compared to walking in
commercial and indoor settings that have no tress. Meditative walking in the forest was the most
effective at increasing happiness which is defined as the presence of positive emotional mindset.
Being happy, therefore, broadens how a person thinks about and acts in the daily flow of life’s
efforts, creating positive intellectual and psychological resources.
Parks help in stress reduction. Studies by environmental psychologists show that the body’s
response is remarkably fast, occurring within minutes when it experiences visual exposure to
nature, in the form of trees, grass and flowers.
Increased time of nature experience (up to 1.5 hours) contribute to better mental health and
functioning. Today’s modern life demands sustained focus to projects that lead to cognitive
overload, bringing on irritability and inability to function effectively. The view or brief experiences
of nearby nature help to restore the mind from mental fatigue because natural settings provide
respite from the highly focused attention needed for most tasks in school and at work.
Nature experience improves mindfulness by evoking new ways of thinking, promoting
curiosity and encourage more flexible thinking. It also supports creativity because the restored
mind is better at analyzing and developing ideas.
Green spaces promote community connections, greater perceptions of well-being and
neighborhood satisfaction. Active involvement in community greening and nature restorative
projects also produces social benefits, including strengthening of intergenerational ties and
organizational empowerment.

The 12 Principles to consider when designing and landscaping in a sustainable manner.

1. Retain as much of the pre-existing landscape as possible during new construction,

including the soil, rocks, native vegetation, wetlands and contours. This will minimize
disturbances, which can open up an area to invasive species. It can also keep costs down,
as fewer new plants, soil amendments and habitat enhancements will be needed.
2. Maintain high quality soils that will hold water and supply plants with proper nutrients.
During construction, leave as much existing topsoil as possible. When new soil is brought
in, ensure that it is certified weed free, in order to prevent the spread of new invasive
species. Using compost and other natural products for mulch and fertilizer will help
enhance the soil and feed the native plants. Good quality soil will reduce the need for
fertilizers.
3. Connect new landscape components with the surrounding native vegetation to create larger
contiguous areas of habitat. Many wildlife species need large ranges to find adequate food,
mates and shelter. By reducing the number of roads, parking lots and turf areas, or by
placing these together, habitat quality will be enhanced.
4. Create natural storm water management systems and other green infrastructure, such as
rain gardens and swales with native grasses. These systems help to minimize downstream
flooding, recharge and filter groundwater and are more cost-effective and environmentally-
sound than man-made systems of pipes and storage tanks.
5. Protect wetlands from disturbance and fill. Avoid placing construction projects, active
recreation areas and roads or parking lots near or in wetlands. Natural wetlands provide
many benefits to the environment that cannot easily be duplicated with man-made ones.
6. Use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to minimize the use of chemical
pesticides to control plant and insect pests. IPM is an ecologically-based approach to pest
control that helps maintain strong and healthy plants. IPM can include the use of traps,
sterile male pests and quarantines.
7. Minimize non-porous surfaces like roads, parking lots and paved trails. Consider replacing
asphalt and concrete with porous pavement, mulch paths, gravel lots and native vegetation.
Porous surfaces help to recharge ground water, reduce erosion, lessen flooding events and
filter out pollutants. When non-porous surfaces must be used, arrange them in an area
where they will not fragment habitat, make them as small in area as possible, and keep
them far away from water bodies.
8. Use green building practices in new and retrofit construction projects. This may include
renewable lighting and HVAC sources, low-flow toilets, motion-sensors on lights and
recycled-content carpets, walls and ceiling panels. Green buildings are not only
economically smart, they also may be healthier for the people that live, work and spend
time inside.
9. Reduce turf to only those areas essential for recreational and other human use activities.
Turf offers little habitat benefit and is not as effective as many native plants in pollution
filtration, flood prevention and erosion control. In addition, turf maintenance can have
negative impacts on the surrounding environment and can require lots of mowing, watering
and fertilizing. Replace non-native turfgrasses with native warm season grasses, which,
once they are established, have lower maintenance needs.
10. If you must have some turfgrass, follow these guidelines: mow early in the morning or late
evening, mow high (3 inches), never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time,
leave the grass clippings on the lawn as a natural source of fertilizer and moisture-retention,
and choose a native turf grass variety.
11. Use native plants, especially trees, in riparian buffers around any stream, lake, or wetland.
Riparian buffers help to filter pollutants before they reach water bodies, and the vegetation
discourages nuisance geese from staying in the area. Roots from riparian forests also
prevent erosion of soils into the water body and minimize flooding events. Shade from
these buffers acts as a temperature control for the water body, which enhances habitat value
for aquatic organisms. The food and shelter values of these buffers also enhances habitat.
By selecting the right kinds of plants, the scenic views of the water bodies can be enhanced.
12. Identify and remove invasive plant species whenever possible. Invasive plants have a
number of detrimental effects on natural habitats. Most invasive plants grow so densely
and spread so rapidly that native vegetation is choked out.

Conserving and Protecting Water Resources

Maintaining a landscape, whether it is in a park, residential area, shopping plaza or school, can use
up large quantities of water. Determining water budgets, a topic that will be described below, can
help define sustainability in terms of overall water use and impacts. Water uses can range from
irrigating turf fields to filling up swimming pools to flushing toilets. With higher water
consumption comes higher water bills and less water available for the natural resources, including
the plants and animals. This section offers suggestions on how a sustainable landscape can reduce
its water use and preserve water resources in a manner that will be beneficial to humans, wildlife
and the environment.

1. Monitor and Minimize Water Resources

A water budget quantifies all the water flowing into and out of a defined area, such as a watershed
or a local park, over a fixed period of time. A water budget looks at precipitation rates, the
infiltration of water through the soil – which depends in large part on the amount of non-porous
surfaces like roads – evaporation, and the various water users in the area.
A water budget can show how much water will be needed for things like restrooms, drinking
fountains and irrigation, versus how much water is available. The amount of water being used will
depend on factors such as the efficiency rating of faucets and toilets, the time of year (water use is
typically higher in the spring and summer) and a whole host of site-specific conditions. The amount
of water available will depend on precipitation rates, groundwater levels and stored water.
Knowing the amount of water in an area will help to make decisions on how to use and preserve
water resources. A sustainable landscape will ensure that human uses of water do not negatively
impact the water available for wildlife, plants and the environment. The use of low-flow toilets,
soaker hoses instead of sprinklers for irrigation and checking for leaky pipes can all help reduce
water waste. This can not only save money in the long run, but also ensure that water remains
available for other water users, including wildlife and plants.

2. Reuse Water
Another option is to reuse graywater. Graywater is any water that has been used in a home, park
or business setting (except from toilets) that can then be reused for things such as irrigation, mixing
with herbicides and in commercial toilet flushing. Graywater reuse has many benefits including a
reduction in fresh water demands and the cost savings that go with that. There are many strict
guidelines to follow when using graywater, however. If graywater is to be used for irrigation, it
will have to undergo secondary treatment followed by filtration and disinfection. These processes
may be cost-prohibitive for a single business, but a collaboration between local businesses or
municipalities might make it affordable.
Stormwater may be captured and used for irrigation purposes as well. Rain barrels or cisterns
attached to downspouts will collect rainwater from roofs for later use. The EPA estimates that one
55-gallon rain barrel can save homeowners 1300 gallons of water during peak summer months.
Reusing this rainwater instead of letting it run into storm drains may also protect the environment;
many communities have combined sewer overflows (CSO) that can dump untreated wastewater
into streams if flows get too heavy after a storm.

3. Create and Enhance Riparian Buffers

Riparian buffers are areas of vegetation alongside streams and other bodies of water. They mitigate
floods, recharge groundwater, prevent erosion and sedimentation of the stream, trap pollutants
within plant roots and improve aquatic and terrestrial species habitat. This is accomplished in
several ways. Riparian buffer plants slow runoff from precipitation and allow it to infiltrate into
the soil. This settles out sediment, nutrients and pollution before they can reach the stream.
Forested buffers have the greatest filtration capacity; these buffers can absorb 10 to 15 times more
water than turfgrass areas. Studies have also shown a 30 to 90 percent reduction of pollution and
excess nutrients in surface and groundwater that have passed through a forested buffer. The trees
found in forested buffers also help to regulate the water temperature of a stream by providing
shade. The higher the water temperature, the more likely algae and aquatic nuisance plant species
are to grow. Dissolved oxygen levels are reduced as temperatures increase, and this can lead to
increased mortality of aquatic wildlife. Trees provide leaves and woody debris that are used by
aquatic life for food and habitat. Forested streams tend to be wider and slower moving, helping
reduce the impacts of flooding downstream.
While trees will provide better shade in riparian areas than grasses and other vegetation, any buffer
is better than none at all. Using a combination of trees, warm season grasses and other native
vegetation in the riparian buffer will not only protect the water body, but also provide a variety of
habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial species. Stroud Water Research Center suggests the use of
eight to 10 species in a buffer planting to restore a wide range of stream functions.
The quality of the riparian buffer and its wildlife habitat increases as the size of the buffer
increases. Riparian buffers 100 feet wide or greater on each side of the stream are very effective,
but buffers under this width will still provide some value to habitat quality and environmental
protection. Buffers with a width of 100 to 300 feet on each side provide the most significant
benefits to wildlife, but dedicating that much space may be a challenge. Deciding on the width of
the buffer will depend on many factors, including the quality of the water body for human and
wildlife uses, the extent of the floodplain, the degree of slope on the banks and the amount of land
not already devoted towards some other use. In any case, as much land as possible should be
devoted towards the buffer.
Riparian buffers are a new concept to many people, and the appearance of the buffer is something
to keep in mind prior to its creation. Care should be taken to ensure that maintenance crews do not
accidentally mow or remove plants within the riparian buffer.
Visitors to parks and other public areas that have come to expect easy access to the stream will
need to be educated on the importance of the riparian buffer. They should also be provided with a
few well-marked access points to the water. Otherwise, the visitors might see the buffer as a
“weedy” nuisance and request that it be mowed down. This occurred in a housing development
along the Turkey Run stream in Lower Southampton Township, outside of Philadelphia.
Wildflower meadows and no-mow areas were installed to protect the stream from pollutants,
which included droppings from hundreds of aggressive geese. An education campaign helped to
gain acceptance and buy-in of the buffer from the local residents.

4. Protect Wetlands and Critical Recharge Areas

Just like riparian buffers, wetlands have a crucial function in the health of not just aquatic
ecosystems, but terrestrial ones as well. Wetlands act as a natural flood control by slowing down
storm water. They also recharge groundwater and trap sediment, fertilizers and pollutants before
they enter the water cycle.
There are many ways that landowners can protect wetlands. Construction and other forms of
disturbance should be avoided in and near wetlands. Filling in or building near a wetland can have
negative impacts on the environment, and so, should be avoided at all costs. Keep roads, trails and
buildings as far away from wetlands as possible. Another source of protection can come from
planting riparian buffers around wetlands.
Sometimes protecting wetlands depends on protecting critical recharge areas. Critical recharge
areas are typically large contiguous areas of land that allow precipitation and other surface waters
to infiltrate through the soil to recharge the ground-water.
The rest of that water feeds wetlands, streams and drinking water aquifers. Without this constant
recharge, periods of drought could leave streams and wells dry, thus affecting available drinking
water and wildlife habitat. Developing a sustainable community park or other passive land use in
a critical recharge area is one way to ensure that the area is protected from the large areas of hard,
non-porous surfaces like pavement and the pollution that can come from traditional forms of
development. If your land is located within one of these recharge areas, care should be taken to
minimize the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, reduce the number of roads and parking
lots, and increase the area covered by native vegetation, to ensure groundwater protection.
How do you know if your land is located within a critical recharge area? Several factors contribute
to an area being designated as such: groundwater is the primary source of water in the area,
adequate groundwater flow is required for aquatic organisms in a nearby stream, there is little to
no existing groundwater contamination, the area is at risk from development or other land uses
and groundwater conditions will remain high quality if protected.
The underlying geology and soils of the area also play a large part in the effectiveness of
precipitation recharging back into the groundwater.

5. Manage Stormwater Naturally

Stormwater is all the water that accumulates from precipitation on land and can include runoff
from the built environment (i.e., roofs and roads). Traditionally this water was treated as a waste
product; people wanted to get it off their land as soon as possible. Gray infrastructure was typically
used, consisting of drains and underground pipes that send irregular, high velocity water flows into
natural bodies of water, along with high loads of sediment and pollutants, which can negatively
harm wildlife and their habitat. Natural stormwater systems, on the other hand, treat this water as
a resource, reusing it on-site and letting it trickle into the ground where it can replenish
groundwater and remove pollutants.
There are several forms of natural stormwater systems, including swales, rain gardens and
vegetated detention ponds. A swale is a gently sloped vegetated ditch where pollutants are removed
from stormwater by filtration through native grasses and other plants.
Their design lends itself to roadsides and edges of parking lots, where oil, gasoline and salts can
be trapped before reaching surface or ground water. Swales are a less expensive alternative than
underground stormwater pipes and holding tanks, and they can provide wildlife habitat if the right
plants are chosen. Properly maintained swales should drain completely within 24 hours.
This will reduce mosquito levels, as their eggs take 48 hours in water to hatch. Detention ponds
are basins that act in a similar manner to swales but typically hold water for a longer amount of
time. Both swales and basins should be planted with a variety of native plants to help absorb
pollutants, provide habitat, and create an aesthetically pleasing site.
A rain garden is a shallow depression in the ground, filled with sandy soil and planted with deep-
rooted native vegetation. The garden is situated in an area where it can receive runoff from hard
surfaces like parking lots and sidewalks. The gardens slow down the speed of runoff and hold the
water so it can naturally infiltrate into the ground. Rain gardens, like the one shown on the right,
offer many benefits to the environment including the creation of habitat for birds and butterflies,
pollution filtration and a decreased need for irrigation. The basic steps to create a rain garden are
to (1) pick a location that has suitable soils for infiltration, (2) measure the drainage area, (3) draw
a simple design, (4) choose the plants, (5) layout and dig the garden, (6) plant the vegetation, (7)
and perform regular maintenance.
Even just the planting of more trees near roads and parking lots can reduce the need for large,
expensive stormwater management systems, according to the American Forests Urban Resource
Center. The conservation group American Forests estimates that trees save U.S. cities $400 billion
in the cost of building stormwater retention facilities.
Another way to effectively manage stormwater is to minimize the areas of hard, non-porous
surfaces such as roads, rooftops and parking lots. This can be accomplished through narrower
roads, porous pavements and rainwater catchment systems on roofs. Non-porous surfaces do not
allow precipitation to infiltrate into the soils, so there is less ground water recharge, which in turn
can lead to less available drinking water. Precipitation flows quickly over non-porous surfaces and
carries with it soil, valuable nutrients, pollutants and weed seeds. Turf that has been mown low to
the ground also has a higher runoff rate than native vegetation, particularly on steeper slopes.
Without riparian buffers and natural stormwater systems, the pollutants end up in streams and lakes
where they can poison aquatic life and encourage the spread of invasive species. The Maryland
Department of Natural Resources has found that in watersheds covered by more than 25 percent
hard, non-porous surfaces, only pollution tolerant reptiles and amphibians can thrive. When a
watershed is more than 15 percent non-porous, it never has a “good” stream health rating, and even
at 2 percent non-porous land cover, sensitive species are never found. It is essential to limit the
area covered by nonporous surfaces and turfgrass within sustainable community parks and
landscapes. By doing so, you will not only help protect water resources, but you also may save
money in the process.
For those hard, non-porous surfaces that must be kept, like roads, their width should be minimized
as much as possible. Paved parking lots should have just enough spaces for low-use times of year,
with gravel or grass overflow parking for busier seasons. Turf should be limited to recreational
areas (ball fields and picnic areas).
Turf in other areas can be replaced with native warm season grasses such as big and little bluestem
or with wildflower meadows and shrubs. These plants have a higher rate of absorption, and provide
many more habitat benefits, than do turfgrasses. Plus they require less frequent maintenance than
turf once they have established.

6. Reduce the Use of Chemicals

Building construction and maintenance might involve the use of many chemical substances,
including chemically-treated wood for picnic tables and decks, synthetic fertilizers on turf areas,
herbicides on weeds and window cleaner inside the buildings. In some cases, their use is justified
and essential for proper maintenance. However, these chemicals may have negative effects on
human health, the environment and wildlife habitat, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. The use of
chemical substances should be minimized whenever possible. If alternatives exist that have less of
a negative impact on staff health and natural resources, they should be used, especially in high
quality habitats and indoors.
No matter what the chemical is, and what it is being used for, it should be used, stored and disposed
of in an appropriate manner so that it does not cause harm to people or natural resources. By
following the suggestions given in the following section, you will help ensure that aquatic habitats,
natural resources and human health are protected and enhanced.

Pesticides
Many times, the use of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides is the only way to remove nuisance
and invasive species from an area. To minimize the risks these chemicals pose to non-target
organisms and the environment, always be sure to read the label carefully and follow the directions
exactly, in order to minimize the accidental use of too much chemical, using a chemical that is not
approved for that area or applying it in the wrong way. When applying pesticides in or near a body
of water, be sure that it is specifically formulated for use in aquatic habitats.

Chemical Fertilizers
Chemical fertilizers are sometimes used to keep turfgrass and other vegetation green, particularly
in areas with poor soil quality. Problems can arise when these fertilizers are misused or after strong
rains. Applying too much fertilizer can cause burnout of the plants. It also increases the chance
that these extra nutrients will get washed into a water body where they could cause algal blooms
and outbreaks of invasive plants.

Swimming Pool Chemicals

Just like other chemicals, swimming pool chemicals can become dangerous when improperly used
or stored. Dangers can include fires, toxic vapors and personal injuries.
Alternatives to traditional pool chemicals exist that are more environmentally-sound, but they may
be more expensive. These alternatives include salt based sanitation systems, ionization and
ozonation.

Pressure-treated Lumber
Until recently, most pressure-treated lumber contained a compound called chromated copper
arsenate (CCA). This chemical protected the wood from rot and insect damage. However, in 2003
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested that these compounds be phased out of
wood used for residential purposes and in children’s play areas because it found that arsenic in the
wood raised the risk of several forms of cancer.34 Some wood playgrounds, picnic tables, park
benches and decks were built prior to this ban and may have been leaching arsenic into the
environment for years.
These should be replaced with composites, or plastic, vinyl or rubber “wood” whenever possible,
and the soil in those areas should be tested to make sure it does not contain potentially dangerous
levels of arsenic.
There are other pressure-treated lumbers available that are treated with different chemicals such
as alkaline copper quaternary ACQ and copper azole. Research into the environmental effects has
so far been limited in scope, but studies show that they do not produce the dangerous arsenic
byproducts that the CCA does. However, they still should not be used for bird and bat houses, or
other structures that could be used by wildlife.

Cleaning Supplies, Paints, etc.

Traditional cleaning products, paints, varnishes and sealants may contain toxic or hazardous
ingredients, such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Some VOCs are toxic when inhaled or
they may cause burns, rashes or cancer when they come in contact with skin. Janitorial staff face
the greatest risks from the use of such chemicals, but all staff may be exposed to these products
with effects building up over time.
To reduce the risks to human health and the environment, choose what are deemed
“environmentally-preferable products.” A truly environmentally-preferable product includes
ingredients that are certified to contain lower or insignificant amounts of toxic or hazardous
materials and have low adverse impacts on the environment.

References:
Leinbach, K. (2018) Urban Ecology: A Natural Way to Transform Kids, Parks, Cities and the
World. NY: Morgan James Publishing
Ohlsen, E. (2019) The Ecological Landscape Professional. Published by Story Scapes
Royston, A (2021) How Can We Save Our World? Sustainable Cities. London: Arcturus
Publishing Limited
Wolf K.L. (2017) The Health Benefits of Small Parks and Green Spaces. National Recreation
and Park Association Magazine. April Edition
Brampton Eco Park Strategy (2019)
https://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/GrowGreen/Documents/Brampton_Eco_Park_Strategy_F
inal_pdf
Creating Sustainable Community Parks https://wwconservationtools.org/guides/93-creating-
sustainable-community-parks