Thinking “green” in the exurbs

"Green" has become synonymous with all things environmentally friendly and usually conjures up images of windmills, solar panels and bio fuels. There are myriad possibilities for this kind of alternative energy production in the exurbs, but when Baldwin says they wants to maintain a green exurb, they're usually not always talking about tech; they're talking about trees.

A huge piece of what separates an exurb from a suburb, besides driving distance, is its green space -- open fields, trees and a green highway corridor that separate man-made elements from one another in the skyline. Suburbs often set aside huge pieces of land for parks and mandate green space in developments, but these often turn into manicured lawns, which have just as much of a man-made feel as their housing divisions.

Green space is the aesthetic hallmark of the exurbs and a big challenge for these areas is figuring out how to add amenities without filling the landscape with concrete and brick.

We've talked about small farming possibilities, which are one way to maintain green space. But how can Baldwin create a green town square, bus stop or community center? How do you balance buildings and green space while trying to create a walkable landscape?

Obviously leaving lots of open space between buildings does this well from an aesthetic standpoint, but that creates an inefficient system that would require more pavement or road, as well as decrease ease of walkability.

Perhaps part of the solution involves considering carefully the design of added buildings: does a modern, sleek building fit among tall grasses, cattails and trees? Is Baldwin more suited to old-style constructions with a small town feel? Or is there, perhaps, something in between?

Playgrounds may look less out-of-place constructed of wood or if their themes are nature-based than if they emerge from the horizon as brightly colored plastic forms. Or, perhaps, incorporating trees and other plants into a playground, as the Princeton ECFE park has, can off-set the less-than-natural look playgrounds can take.

A community center could be surrounded by floral or fruit and vegetable gardens and other plants.

What are your ideas for maintaining Baldwin's green space as it continues to develop?

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