1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Mobile (FUA)
Region
Northern America
Short description of the intervention
Medal of Honour Park, located in West Mobile, is the city's second-largest park (Ref 3, video). A City-County partnership is planning to implement significant changes to the park and its amenities (Ref 3). These changes include crowning and sodding the field, surrounded by large oaks, making it an oasis in the middle of the city (Ref 1, Ref 5). The project will focus on upgrading recreational and sports facilities, such as improvements to the golf area (Ref 1), tennis courts, and softball fields (Ref 1, 4). Additionally, the playground will be entirely rebuilt, featuring RSA Tower slides, new drinking fountains, new fencing, and rubber play surfaces for added safety (Ref 3). Cultural and social enhancements are also part of the plan, including upgrades to the amphitheatre (Ref 1). Visitors will enjoy a walking trail that allows them to experience nature while exploring the park. Other amenities receiving upgrades include lighting, wayfinding signage (Ref 1), as well as improvements to the concession stands and restrooms (Ref 4). Traffic circulation within the park will also see enhancements, particularly at the street intersection and surrounding landscaping (Ref 1).
This park is a popular destination, attracting kids and families from all over the region (Ref 3, video). Importantly, it meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, ensuring accessibility for everyone (Ref 5).
Website of the intervention
https://mapformobile.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CIP-23-27_Final_forPrint…
Principal problems
Land use and Socio-economic change
Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Implementation area characterization
Climate
Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)
Ecosystem
Urban or built environment
Address

1711 Hillcrest Rd
Mobile, 36695
United States

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
1) Capital Improvement Plan 23-27 (page 83)
https://mapformobile.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CIP-23-27_Final_forPrint_Optimized.pdf accessed on 24/08/2024
2) Google Maps
https://www.google.be/maps/place/1711+Hillcrest+Rd,+Mobile,+AL+36609,+%C3%89tats-Unis/@30.6567575,-88.1890836,15.13z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x889bb2dee66f7f93:0x796ef3f43d186a7c!8m2!3d30.6568385!4d-88.1842911!16s%2Fg%2F11gmcsg6z_?hl=fr&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D accessed on 24/08/2024
Area description
Urban (main city)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2022
End date of the intervention
2025
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. Enhance the park's recreational and sports amenities (Ref 1, Ref 3).
2. Improve the cultural and social features of the park (Ref 1).
3. Ensure safety and accessibility for all visitors (Ref 3, Ref 1).
4. Upgrade the park's infrastructure, including lighting, signage, and traffic circulation (Ref 1, Ref 4).
5. Create an appealing and family-friendly destination (Ref 3).
6. Preserve and integrate natural elements, such as the large oaks and the walking trail, within the park’s design (Ref 5).
Key Priorities
Social Justice and community
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
1. Crowning and sodding the field (Ref 1).
2. Improving the disc golf area (Ref 1).
3. Upgrading tennis courts (Ref 1, 4).
4. Upgrading the softball fields (Ref 1, 4).
5. Rebuilding the playground, including RSA Tower slides, new drinking fountains, new fencing, and rubber play surfaces (Ref 3).
6. Enhancing the amphitheater (Ref 1).
7. Creating a walking trail (Ref 2).
8. Upgrading lighting and wayfinding signage (Ref 1).
9. Renovating concession stands and restrooms (Ref 4).
10. Improving traffic circulation, including the street intersection and landscaping (Ref 1).
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)
Updated management structure of existing green spaces (e.g. parks)
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Design elements for well-being
Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)
Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves)
Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
Demographics in Claremont neighborhood in 2022 (Ref 6)
- population: 1,204
- median age females: 51.2 years
- median age males: 41.9 years
- median household income: $59,600
- average size of the household: 16.2 people
- ethnicity: White: 63.9%, Black: 16.9%, Two or more races: 8.8%, Asian: 4.4%, Hispanic or Latino: 3.0%, Some other race: 2.0%, American Indian: 0.9%
Socio-economic profile of the area
Middle-income
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children
Specify primary beneficiaries
- Children and families: "kids and families come from all over to that park" (Ref 3 video)
Marginalized groups
Children, young people or youth groups
People with functional diversities
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
- children: the park features playground and sport amenities for children (Ref 2)
- People with functional diversities: The park meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards (ref 1)
Other beneficiaries
Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators)
Native plant vegetation
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The city of Mobile leads the project (Ref 1). The project is funded by the city and by the county (Ref 3)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)
Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Unknown
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Unknown
Enablers & Barriers
Type of enablers
Unknown
Governace and decison-making instruments
Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans)
Arrangements for governance cooperation
Unknown
Barriers
unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Please specify total cost (EUR)
$4,007,000 (Ref 1) = 3 596 419,65 Euros (Exchange rate on 24/09/2024: USD = 0,897534 EUR)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Public regional budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Unknown
Business models
Business models
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Citizens / local communities
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Expected increased green space area
Description of environmental benefits
-Increased green space area: "the second largest park of the city" (Ref 3, video)," crowning and sodding the field" (Ref 1)
"Surrounded by large oaks; an oasis in the middle of the city" (Ref 5)
Environmental impact indicators
Green space area created (in ha)
unknown
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Expected improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Improved physical health
Expected improved physical health
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Expected protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Social and cultural impact indicators
Surface area of accessible green spaces (in ha)
unknown
Total area of recreational green space created or restored (in ha)
unknown
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Improved access to urban green space: "the second largest park of the city" (Ref 3, video),"That’s a destination park, kids and families com from all over to that park (Ref 3, video)
-Increased opportunities for social interaction: "This multi-part project is expected to involve upgrading of recreational and sport amenities" (Ref 1)
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "This multi-part project is expected to involve upgrading of recreational and sport amenities" "disk golf area improvements" (Ref 1) "tennis court and softball upgrade "(Ref 1), "the playground will be completely rebuilt" (Ref 1)
-Improved physical health: "This multi-part project is expected to involve upgrading of recreational and sport amenities" (Ref 2), "disk golf area improvements" (Ref 1) "tennis court and softball upgrade "(Ref 1)
-Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure: "improved amphitheater" (Ref 1)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Transparency
Public disclosure of project funding sources and/or budgets
Justice
Community satisfaction
Unknown
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
unknown
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Unknown
Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected
unknown
Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices
No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
No initiatives or policies were implemented
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
No
Goal setting and impacts delivery
No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.
Reaching original project goals
Inconclusive as the project is still undergoing implementation, or is still on its planning stages
Long-term perspective
Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Equitable impacts
C. Unknown
Transformative capacity
Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them)
Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)
Magnitude of change
Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically
Application of lessons learned
Unknown
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
City of Mobile (2023). Capital Improvement Plan 23-27. Mobile: City of Mobile, p. 83 Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
City of Mobile (n.d.). Medal of Honor Park. Mobile: City of Mobile, p. 1 Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Jennings, C. (2016). City Council to vote on $1M for Medal of Honor Park upgrades. Mobile: NBC 15 News, p. 1-2 Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Bay Business News (2016). Funding Approved for Medal of Honor Park. Mobile: Bay Business News, p. 1-2 Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Mobile Sport Authorities (n.d.). Medal of Honor Park (Cottage Hill Park). Mobile: Mobile Sport Authorities, p. 1-2 Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
CityData.com (n.d.). Demographics in Claremont - CityData.com. Mobile: CityData.com, Accessed on September 24, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Renovated playground in Medal of Honor Park, featuring benches, shade spots and recently planted trees
Renovated playground in Medal of Honor Park, featuring benches, shade spots and recently planted trees
https://www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/medal-of-honor-park/ accessed on 24/09/2024