Aaron Hanson Thesis Book.pdf - NDSU - North Dakota State ...

narrativeI grew up on the countryside of a rural community near a small river thatconnected a few towns along its route. I spent most of my childhoodoutdoors doing various activities along this memorable river. It hadn’toccurred to me at the time how truly connected I was to the river’secological setting until I began living in an urban environment.In many urban cities there is little connection between the ecologyof a river and its urban dwellers. Many urban settings include builtinfrastructure with poor connections to natural elements and/or paying littleattention to the river.Why is there a missing connection between the river and its urban setting?Is it because cities have turned their back away from the river? How canlandscape architecture help urban communities reconnect to a river?An ecological restoration can restore the missing link between peopleand a river. Creating areas of interest and activities through green spacedesign can create opportunities for stormwater infiltration, alternativetransportation uses, and educational elements. The goal is to use the rivercorridor to unify urban communities and in doing so, promote a sustainablefuture for our ecosystem while providing economical and cultural growth.8