At Access All Areas, Dr. Glyn Everett, Senior Research Fellow at UWE’s Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research (CABER), gave an engaging talk on how Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) can be designed with Disabled people in mind. BGI is an approach to urban development that combines water management—“blue” elements like rivers and ponds—with “green” natural spaces, improving biodiversity and resilience against flooding while creating enjoyable, accessible urban spaces.
What is Blue-Green Infrastructure?
BGI projects, like those Dr. Everett referenced in Portland, Oregon, have transformed city landscapes by combining green spaces with sustainable water management practices, filtering pollutants, and supporting wildlife. Such projects bring multiple benefits, including improved air and water quality, climate resilience, and greater community well-being. However, Dr. Everett highlighted that despite these benefits, many BGI spaces are not fully accessible to Disabled people.
The Enhanced BGI Project
Dr. Everett’s Enhanced Blue-Green Infrastructure project aims to address this gap by involving Disabled people directly in the planning and design process. His team, working with members of WAIT (WECIL Access and Inclusion Team), hosted workshops and site visits to local parks, assessing aspects like accessibility, wayfinding, and resting points. WAIT members shared valuable insights on accessible design features, including the need for clearly marked paths, resting benches, and accurate online descriptions of each site’s accessibility features. Their findings also emphasized the importance of conducting access audits after installation to ensure the spaces work in practice as intended.
Key Insights and Future Directions
Dr. Everett’s research also revealed how social dynamics, such as feeling safe within these spaces, are as important as physical accessibility. For instance, while the metro system in Phoenix, Arizona, may be accessible, the area’s high social deprivation created safety concerns for Disabled women in particular, highlighting how true accessibility must consider a space’s broader social environment.
Looking ahead, Dr. Everett and his team hope to conduct more workshops across different groups to gain diverse perspectives and promote creative solutions that account for various needs. The goal is to create inclusive spaces that consider different impairments, encourage comfort, and ensure all users feel they belong in these communal environments.
Through his work, Dr. Everett is leading the charge to make BGI not only a sustainable but also an inclusive solution for urban development, helping to make cities greener, safer, and more welcoming for all.
