Green infrastructure, civic ecology, and art/science/community collaboration: Reimagining the future of urban water through Milwaukee’s WaterMarks program

Keywords: green infrastructure, civic ecology, public art, urban water, Milwaukee
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 35

Abstract

As the challenges of urban stormwater management increase in the face of climate change and deteriorating systems of conventional gray infrastructure, cities throughout the world are embracing green infrastructure. Although green infrastructure is typically defined in terms of specific technologies and interventions – such as bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain gardens – there is growing recognition that the concept also encompasses various forms of civic action by groups and individuals. The idea that urban neighborhoods and residents can become part of a city’s green infrastructure is at the heart of WaterMarks, a new project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that combines public art programs, informal science learning, and community collaboration. Serving as visual anchors for a suite of programs designed to engage residents with the city’s water system, such as neighborhood walks led by teams of artists and scientists, is a city-wide network of “WaterMarkers”: solar-powered poles topped by letters of the alphabet chosen by neighborhood teams. When heavy storm events are predicted, the letters will pulse to encourage residents to conserve water and reduce pressure on the gray infrastructure system. This paper introduces the WaterMarks program and develops a conceptual framework connecting green infrastructure, civic ecology, and the role of art in reimagining the future of urban water systems.