As urbanization accelerates, cities worldwide face the challenges of balancing urban development with the preservation of green landscapes. The city of Waterloo, Ontario known for its growth in technology and education sectors, is no exception.
In this continuous urban transformation, lifelong Waterloo resident, William McFaddin, recalled when a tree was planted every 100 feet along the streets near his home. It was during the road reconstruction when temperatures soared to 32°C daily.
“One of them that survived, I carried pails of water and dumped it on that tree to keep it living. The city never came around for watering,” McFaddin said.
Pointing at the only surviving tree now seven years old, with its sturdy trunk and modest canopy, the 67-year-old retiree imagined how the street could have looked in the next decade.
“If you picture this road with this tree that size all the way down in another 10 years, this whole walkway will be covered, and it will look nicer. But look what you get; one tree surviving in all of that,” he said.
McFaddin’s dismay highlights a fundamental truth, which is balancing urban development with green space preservation can be challenging. Yet, these challenges do not overshadow the long-term benefits that green spaces provide for well-being and quality of life.
“The presence of vegetation and trees almost acts as a filter for air that will decrease air pollution and acts as buffering effects for temperatures in the cities,” said Su-Yin Tan, a public health expert at the University of Waterloo.
Tan said research has found that reducing green space leads to long-term increases in chronic diseases and public safety. “Like for example, heart disease, mortality rate, asthma, and even things like crime and violence.”
The city of Waterloo recognizes these long-term health risks and benefits, and continues to prioritize preserving green spaces for environmental sustainability and residents’ quality of life, said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe.
“We just did a 30 kilometre bike ride around the west side of Waterloo. We were looking at neighbourhood parks, green spaces, what’s some of the things we know we’ll probably need to put some more amenities in the next five to 10 years,” said McCabe.
However, the challenge of balancing urban growth with green space preservation is a complex one. According to the population projections from the 2021 Census, there will be 185,000 permanent residents living in Waterloo by 2051, excluding students. This presents a pressing need for expanded housing, and public services.
“We decided probably about 15 years ago that we are not going to look to add more land to our city. Instead of continuing to sprawl, we will build in and up. So, because we’re doing that, it’s a challenge to find pieces of land where we can create green spaces, natural areas, parks, and trails,” the mayor said.
Amid the challenges, the city of Waterloo has implemented several initiatives and strategies to preserve green spaces while accommodating urban development. These initiatives aim to protect ecological integrity while ensuring the community can enjoy the benefits of urbanization.
“We’ve got all the variety of master plans in place, and so we, council get continually updated on where we’re at with meeting the goals that are set out and the strategy that’s set out in those master plans” McCabe said.
The mayor explains that the city of Waterloo uses long-term planning strategies to guide community development, focusing on sustainability and future growth. Through its official plan, which spans at least 10 years and projects up to 2050, the city allocates land for urban tree strategy while specialized plans aim to increase green spaces.
“We make amendments to it sometimes,” she said, noting that the council receives regular updates on the progress of meeting goals outlined in various master plans. Evaluations take place several times a year or annually through asset management programs, helping assess how well the city is adhering to its strategic objectives. This process ensures continuous monitoring and adjustments to achieve long-term goals in the city.
“With the build-up, like high rises and so on, that also means higher population density. So, these can all have really long-term consequences,” said Tan, while emphasizing the need for urban constructions and population to be proportional to green spaces.
Even though it’s challenging to achieve proportional green spaces, the mayor believes the city is getting it right.
“I think we are on a good path,” she reflected with a firm tone. “We have a really solid vision for the future, and we’ll continue to consult with the community to get their input as well,” she added.
As the city of Waterloo faces the challenges of sustaining its growth while preserving its natural landscape, the only surviving tree near McFaddin’s home stands as a reminder of what’s at stake. However, the success of this balance depends on continuously adhering to the city’s master plan, community involvement, and a shared commitment to both progress and preservation.
