Environmental Discourse and Economic Growth in the Greening of Postindustrial Cities

Abstract

The main theme of this chapter is how the physical greening of ­postindustrial cities in the form of urban parks, the reclamation of water features for recreation and wildlife, and enhancement of pedestrian spaces has been critical to changing how people understand the relationship between cities, nature, and economic growth. For over a century cities were seen as antithetical to nature, and environmental protection was assumed to be a barrier to economic success. This assumption has changed significantly in the last several years, and the reintroduction of nature into city centers has played an important role in this change. This chapter argues that the physical greening of formerly industrial cities helped to transform the common sense understanding of the relationship between cities, nature and economic growth from contradictory to mutually beneficial. In turn, this has enabled broader and less visible sustainability initiatives to be undertaken based on the argument that they will help to promote competitiveness and growth in formerly industrial spaces. The recent history of Chicago, Illinois and Birmingham, England are used to illustrate this argument.