18th and Broadway in Kansas City: How A Man-Made Environment Can Coexist in Harmony with Mother Nature

After shooting pics of the new symphony building from various angles, I looked across the street at a park I'd never noticed before. Is that a wind turbine? By the bus stop?

Better check this out, I thought. Am I glad I did! It turns out it's a whole city block that's been turned into a garden! A garden which uses solar energy, wind turbine energy, filters storm drain water, and grows food to donate to Harvesters! How cool is that?

 360 Builders, a local architectural firm, designed and constructed the garden at 18th and Broadway to demonstrate how the man-made environment can coexist in harmony with  Mother Nature.

Edible plants such as strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, pear trees and spinach are grown in raised beds tended by volunteers from 360 Builders and DST.

Raised beds and container gardens allow for better drainage, less soil compaction, increased productivity and also make it easier to weed!

Water run-off from 18th and 19th streets is captured and cleaned in the garden. Maybe this is a solution Kansas City could consider instead of spending $2.4 BILLION to repair our existing, out-dated storm drains.

Native plants and long grasses filter the water as it flows down through curb bumpouts, alley swales and rain gardens. The filtered water is stored in 20,000 gallon underground storage tanks and used to water the plants.

10,000 Rain Gardens in Kansas City would be so proud!

If you get a chance, visit 18th and Broadway in Kansas City. There are panels on the fence on the north side of the block that show and tell how One City Block can coexist in harmony with Mother Nature by:

• Conserving the Quality of our Watershed

  Gardening with Edible Plants

  Using Solar Energy

  Using Wind Turbine Energy

  Reconnecting People to Food

18th and Broadway also has information about how conscientious building design and construction can reduce the need for electricity driven heating and cooling systems by 50%. What would that do for your electric bill?

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 Kansas City Real Estate Blog by Maria Morton

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*This is an eclectic blog combining a little business with pleasure; please consult a licensed professional before making life altering decisions. Maria Morton, Realtor©, ABR, SRES, WHS, is a Kansas City Real Estate Agent licensed in MO & KS and affiliated with Prudential Kansas City Realty 816.410.5499.o Maria Morton Copyright © 2011 *18th and Broadway: How a Man-Made Environment Can Coexist in Harmony with Mother Nature*