Item 1A: Mueller Ecological Update — original pdf
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An Ecological Update Presented to The Mueller Commission June 14, 2022 Agenda • Overview • Flora • Fauna • Infrastructure • Benefits • Parks • Resources • Recognition 2 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 An Overview • Sustainability is one of Mueller’s six primary goals, established by a citizen’s task force, long before ”sustainability” was a household word. • Of the 700 acres that were once part of a brownfield site, 140 acres (or 20%) will be parkland and open space. • The entire community was the largest neighborhood in the world and the first in Texas to earn LEED-Gold, Stage 3 certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. • All homes are within 600 feet of nine current and three future parks or other open space. • Mueller’s purposely diverse parkland uses offer a variety of healthy activities for residents, employees and the surrounding community. • The Mueller Team, with support from the Wildflower Center, gathered plant species from the endangered Blackland Prairie between the airport’s runways, cultivated them in greenhouses, then populated them in the Southwest Greenway. • Mueller’s parks utilize recycled content and/or materials that are sourced within 500 miles of the community. • Deconstructed runway material was reused for many of Mueller early roadways, and and even parts of State Highway 130. 3 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Flora • More than 15,000 trees will be planted • Hundreds of these trees were rescued from a Bastrop-area pecan farm that was going to destroyed for more retail • Mature trees that were located at the former airport where the Northwest and Southeast Greenways are located were preserved • Main tree species are: o o o o o Cedar elm Live oak Pecan Bald cypress Bur oak o Mexican sycamore • The live oak tree at the Aldrich St./Mueller Blvd. roundabout is believed to be the largest successful tree relocation in Texas history • Mueller uses native and adaptive plants that use less water and help pollinators like bees and butterflies thrive • Mueller uses a non-seed-producing Bermuda hybrid grass, which requires less water and can better survive Austin’s hot summers • All of Mueller’s trees and garden areas are re-mulched every 1-2 years to help protect roots and maintain moisture for plant life 4 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 o o o o The Southwest and Southeast Greenways have become popular locations for Travis Audubon Society members and other birders to view migratory species and water fowl A variety of ducks and geese naturally gravitated to Lake Park Catellus maintains a barn owl area in the control tower Purple martin and chimney swift habitats added by Landscape Committee • Butterflies and other pollinators Fauna • Birds • Coyotes • Squirrels • Fish • Turtles 5 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Infrastructure • Integrated pest management • Walking and biking trails made of decomposed granite when possible • Three storm water retention and filtration ponds that invite active human use and attract abundant wildlife • Mueller is one of the few communities where the vast majority of irrigation comes from reclaimed, non-potable water • Protected bicycle lanes • Water fountains • Trash, recycling and dog waste bins • Seating and stretching facilities • Playscapes • Public art, including: Sunflowers Spider Pollen Grain o Wigwam Nessy Ocho o Manhole covers o o o o o o Ella Wooten pool fence iron gates 6 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Benefits • Shared open space and sidewalks along every street allow greater opportunity to meet neighbors; it also increases efficiency of land and allows for more density at Mueller, reducing urban sprawl elsewhere. • Street trees encourage more walking in shade and help curb the heat-island effect. • More direct access to sidewalks and trails improves the health of residents and visitors, according to Texas A&M, which studied Mueller. • More direct access to sidewalks and trails also means more eyes in the community and more eyes to reduce potential crime. • Storm water ponds provide shallow areas that support natural plant habitats, forebays that remove heavy metals and pollutants from the water and control flooding before it moves to Upper Boggy Creek and Lady Bird Lake. • Limited lighting at open spaces and capped street lamps mean darker skies for bird migration and star gazing. 7 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Benefits, continued • Reclaimed water system allows Mueller’s parks and open space to receive more irrigation during drier weather conditions. • Flora and fauna diversity fosters a curiosity, interest and understanding of nature and the local ecosystem. • Maintaining some natural areas encourages a variety of native species to return to an area that was once concrete and concourses. • Mueller’s density and amount of acreage dedicated to landscaped open space improves the air quality for humans and wildlife with fewer vehicle trips. • Employing new designs (e.g. reclaimed water and rain gardens) in a large-scale like Mueller encourages other developments to consider similar designs. • Viewing a variety of vegetation has been shown to improve mental health (hence the seven healing gardens representing seven Central Texas ecosystems around Dell Children’s Medical Center) 8 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks • Northwest Greenway Lake Park Southwest Greenway Ella Wooten Park Paggi Square John Gaines Park • Mary Elizabeth Branch Park Jessie Andrews Park Southeast Greenway • • • • • • • 9 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Northwest Greenway • 14 acres completed in 2007 • Special features: o o o o Preserved grove of post oaks, one of few former airport sites with mature trees Accessible playscape with adjacent picnic area and shade trellis Start of hike & bike trail that loops around community Serves as buffer to only adjoining neighborhood, Delwood II, and includes individual fencing and gates for adjacent homeowners’ privacy and access 10 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Lake Park • 30 acres completed in 2008 • Special features: o o o o o o 6.5-acre constant-level, storm water retention and filtration pond surrounded by hike and bike trails Open-area amphitheater that seats 1,000+ attendees and shade structure ”Best in Austin” European-designed playscape “Nessy” mosaic tile public art sculpture Hosts dozens of events each year Loop trail with stretching area 11 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Southwest Greenway • 32 acres completed in 2008 • Special features: o o o o o o o Restored endangered Blackland Prairie ecosystem and natural area Constant-level, storm water retention and filtration pond, plus waterfalls Demonstration gardens to inform parkgoers about native and adaptive species that can work in their own gardens Educational signage about prairie and demo gardens Three metal art sculptures: “Pollen Grain,” “Wigwam” and the ”Spider” Purple martin and chimney swift homes Hike and bike trail extension 12 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Ella Wooten Park Named for the first women to serve on the Austin Chamber board Junior Olympic pool with five lap lanes and a kids pool • 2.5 acres completed in 2008 • Special features: o o o o o Shaded picnic tables and grills Basketball/sports court Open lawn 13 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Paggi Square • 0.33 acres completed in 2013 • Special features: Named for one of Austin’s first entrepreneurs and first person to bring ice to Austin o Multi-sport court for pétanque, bocce ball Special seating with ledge rock water feature One of city’s first rain gardens built in a public right of way o o o o Gazebo 14 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – John Gaines Park • 3.6 acres completed in 2016 • Special features: o o o o o o Named for one of Austin’s first Black police officer to die in the line of duty 132-plot community gardens with former airport bus shelter providing shade Unique playscape with climbing net, hills and tunnels shaped like former runways Community pool with lap lanes and separate children’s wading pool Rooftop garden at swim center Open lawn 15 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Mary Elizabeth Branch Park • 3.5 acres completed in 2019 • Special features: Named for first Black woman president of an accredited senior Black college Earned SITES recognition from U.S. Green Building Council Events pavilion that is home to Austin’s most popular farmers’ market 15-foot high “prospect hill” overlooking park Playscape featuring a kid-friendly propeller plane o o o o o o o o o Sand volleyball courts and dog run Open field and restroom facilities Rain garden and rooftop garden Lending library 16 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Jessie Andrews Park • 1 acre completed in 2020 • Special features: Named after the first female graduate and teacher at UT Austin “Ocho,” a mixed-media octopus sculpture Green roof over restroom building Outdoor dining area with room for occasional food trucks Permanent tables for games like chess and checkers o Multi-purpose open space Nature-inspired playscape Live performance space o o o o o o o 17 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Southeast Greenway • 28.5 acres completed in 2022 • Special features: o o o o o Professional skate park and pump track with colorful shade canopies and unisex restrooms Pond that has become migrating bird habitat Hike and bike trails connecting to large open fields Orchard area with fruit- and nut-bearing trees Rain garden 18 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Mueller’s Parks – Still to Come Park south of middle school Section 11 park Tower plaza 19 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Resources • Mueller Environmental Education Packet Tips to reduce home energy and water use Keeping a ‘greener” household o o o o o o Lawn care and weeds Plant choice Unwanted garden pests Beneficial insects • Mueller Residential Landscape Design Guidelines • Integrated Pest Management Plan • Mueller Design Book • Grow Green Guide • Parks Guide • Trail Map 20 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022 Recognition YEAR ORGANIZATION AWARD NOTES 2008 Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Award A national jury selected Mueller for its innovative master plan and green space 2008 Austin Business Journal Greenest Neighborhood “Mueller is paving the way for the future of green communities” 2009 Developer Magazine Sustainable Community of the Year “The project's sustainable and smart growth elements have excited the community instead of angering it." 2010 Liveable Cities Vision Award For the SunFlowers sculpture garden 2011 Yahoo! News One of five eco-friendly communities “These smartly planned, transit-oriented, eco-conscious communities are raising the bar on quality of life.” 2012 ULI Austin Public Impact Award For Lake Park’s overall design 2013 Austin Monthly Best of the City: New Park “This little pocket park [Paggi Square] is perfect for neighborhood residents to relax, walk a dog or enjoy a band perform.” Honor Award For the Southwest Greenway’s overall design 2014 American Society of Landscape Architects, Texas 2018 U.S. Green Building Council 2019 National Association of Landscape Professionals Greenbuild Leadership Award “As one of the world’s largest LEED ND developments, you have demonstrated exemplary leadership in environmental stewardship.” Gold Award For Branch Park’s overall design 2021 U.S. Green Building Council SITES certification For Branch Park 21 | RMMA PIAC Presentation | June 14, 2022