Shady Streets

Throughout urban areas "death strips" occur in neglected disturbed spaces between sidewalks, streets, curbs, and other transportation infrastructure, often in public rights-of-way.  

Through vegetative restoration, Shady Streets reimagines these wasted areas as micro habitats providing shade and promoting walkability, among other added benefits.  Pollinator Pockets.  Basic maintenance is provided by appointed "Pocket Stewards", ideally, business owners adjacent to the sidewalk easement.  

Each Pollinator Pocket includes 3 native species all unique to the site: a grass, a perennial, and a tree.  When 10 Pockets are complete, 30 different species of natives are introduced to the urban landscape, including trees, all a bird's jump from each other.  

Design standards address concerns with sidewalk buckling, line-of-site issues at intersections, water use, pedestrian and traffic flow, and street and curb maintenance.  While the City of Kerrville controls most "death strips" that occur in the City limits, the approach can apply to similarly neglected areas throughout Kerrville.