The Green Infrastructure Challenge In Partnership with Water Wise Gulf South and Every Drop Makes a Difference

December 18, 2020

The Green Infrastructure Challenge In Partnership with Water Wise Gulf South and Every Drop Makes a Difference

The Challenge

Organize your neighbors (a minimum of 3) to apply for green infrastructure interventions on your block or your neighborhood!

Mechanics

A budget of $5,000 will be allocated to 7 teams to install the following types of green infrastructure to help manage stormwater where it falls!

  • Rain barrel builds and installations
  • Tree plantings in the public right of way (between the sidewalk and the street or curb)
  • Rain gardens
  • Bioswales
  • French drains
  • Stormwater planter boxes
  • Concrete removal if needed to install the above installation types

Two project types will be allowed:

  • Project type A – More intensive green infrastructure interventions such as rain gardens, french drains, bioswales, etc. can take place within one block of each other.
  • Project type B – Less Intensive green infrastructure interventions such as tree plantings and rain barrel installations can take place within a 5 block radius.

Application Criteria

  1. The team must be composed of residents of Orleans Parish.
  2. Must demonstrate flooding on your block or property (photo or written evidence is allowed)
  3. The team must live in or represent a census tract that has concentrated poverty of 14.3% or greater (See map here. Any census tract shaded in purple qualifies).
  4. The team must have a minimum of 3 members and have representation of at least one Black, indigenous, or person of color (BIPOC).
  5. The team must complete the Water Wise Neighborhood Champions Training Courses. These include a 1.5-hour Green Infrastructure 101 Workshop, a 3-hour Green Infrastructure Tour of Sites in the City, and the 2-hour Green Infrastructure Challenge Application Session. (Total of 6.5 hours of training)
  6. The team must demonstrate a commitment to the maintenance of their proposed projects.

Based on these criteria, seven teams will be selected to move forward with their projects. There will be one team selected from City Council Districts A, B, and D and two teams selected from City Council District C (West Bank and East Bank) and District E (Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East)

How to Apply

  1. Express interest using this form.
  2. Register for the Green Infrastructure 101 Workshop on Thursday, January 7 at 5:30 pm. There is a virtual and in-person option. The in-person option limit is 10 people and will have to sign a COVID-19 release form. Registration is now closed. 
  3. Save the date for the mandatory trainings:
    1. Green Infrastructure 101 Workshop
      Thursday, January 7, 5:30 pm – 7 pm*
    2. Green Infrastructure Tour
      Saturday, January 16, 9 am – 12 pm**
    3. Application Visioning Session
      Saturday, January 30, 9 am – 11 am
  4. If you have any questions, please call or text Water Wise at 504-475-7749.

*The 101 Workshop will be recorded and available for your team members to watch anytime before the Green Infrastructure Tour on January 16.
**A contingency rain date for the Green Infrastructure Tour will be on Saturday, January 23 at 9 am – 12 pm.