Recruit Key Partners
Virtually every city that has implemented cool corridors built their programs on solid and diverse partnerships that bring planners and people together.
Local Agencies
Cool Corridors need to fit within a complex mix of transit, streets, bike paths and lanes, even parks and streams. That requires deep collaboration from multiple municipal departments.
What’s in it for them?
| Agency | Area of Interest | What they can do | What they get |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Parks |
Recreation, outdoor experiences |
Plan for tree canopy |
Natural areas, recreation, public health |
|
Public Works |
Stormwater management |
Plan for trees, green infrastructure |
Reduced stormwater flow, pollution |
|
Planning |
Zoning, smart growth, equity |
More green space in lower income areas |
Healthier, more livable neighborhoods |
|
Transportation |
Pedestrian friendly, safer streets |
Plan for complete, green streets |
Shade promotes transit use, micromobility |
|
Public Health |
Create healthy places |
Assure every neighborhood has access to nature |
Better outcomes for chronic diseases |
|
Sustainability |
Climate adaptation and mitigation |
Focus in comprehensive plans |
Resilient neighborhoods |
Look Beyond Your Boundaries
Regional transportation agencies
Cast a wide net
Each city takes a different path. Seattle and Philadelphia, for example, organize many of their urban forestry initiatives through public/private partnerships.
Push Funding From Top to You
The vast majority of funds for transportation improvements — including cool corridors — flow through the federal agencies. Application processes vary depending on the grant category. Most require significant technical input, and large grants are often offered only through states and metropolitan planning organizations.
EPA’s all-agency Guide to Green Infrastructure and Nature Based Solutions Funding may not reflect current agency policies and programs. Nonetheless the guide suggests the possible breadth and diversity of federal resources.