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Mission Statement
Conserve, steward, and advocate for the unique rural landscape of the Eastern Shore.

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towns Tag

Complete Streets

Last week we posted about neckdowns (or “sneckdowns” in the snow), but that's just one part of the “complete streets” concept. Complete streets are those that provide a range of benefits, both to the environment and the surrounding community. Specifically, complete streets often incorporate green infrastructure elements such as bioretention islands, permeable pavements, street trees, and vegetated swales (just to name a few!). These features effectively capture stormwater runoff and prevent it from reaching and thus polluting the Bay. As if that’s not exciting enough, they also add beautiful aesthetics to an otherwise boring street! Complete streets also revolve around the idea of reclaiming more road space for pedestrians instead of cars. Often times, streets are dominated by automobiles, making it dangerous for people to cross and a hindrance for neighbors that want to get to know each other and build a sense of community. Many complete streets include bike lanes and traffic-calming devices (such as curb bumpouts), so that residents feel more encouraged to bike and less inclined to drive, and also so that cars travel through more slowly. A shining example of a complete street is in Edmonston, MD where, through the help of grants and EPA funds, the community turned a derelict street into a thriving neighborhood asset. Read the full story. Are there any streets in your neighborhood that you think could use a complete street makeover? Design your own street using www.streetmix.net and share your creation with ESLC using the hashtag #eslccompletestreets on Facebook or Twitter. Or leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts! - Kara Nave

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Show Us Your Sneckdowns!

"Sneckdown" is a portmanteau of the words “snow” and “neckdown.”If you’re unfamiliar with exactly what a neckdown is, it’s simply an extension of the curb (also called a “bumpout”) around corners where cars are turning. Neckdowns often are used as a traffic-calming feature and to provide more space for pedestrians on the sidewalk. These areas can be landscaped (vegetated curb extensions) and serve as a stormwater management tool to capture runoff. For more information on green infrastructure practices, check out this useful fact sheet: EPA Green Streets. After a bout of winter weather (that the Eastern Shore has been all too familiar with this year!) and when streets are covered in snow, it’s easy to spot areas of the road that cars don’t use—and you’d be surprised at how much space that is! Untouched snow surrounding a corner curb or in the middle of the street displays to transportation officials and planners a perfect illustration of unused road space. And instead of keeping that wasted extra footage, sneckdowns show the ideal spot for more pedestrian-friendly development. Photo courtesy of This Old City As the Eastern Shore braces for yet another winter storm, ESLC wants to see where you are spotting sneckdowns in your town. How much road space could be reclaimed for pedestrian use? So once the snow starts falling, be sure to send us your photos via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, with the hashtag #shoresneckdowns and tell us what town is shown. Or if you’d rather e-mail us your pictures, send it to info@eslc.org with the subject line “Shore Sneckdowns.” Stay warm and be sure to spot those sneckdowns!

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Recent Posts

  • Roots Monthly Giving Spotlight: Amanda Thornley
  • Big Changes on the Horizon for the CREP Easement Program
  • Trails Get a Boost Across the Shore
  • Seven Legislative Efforts That Could Impact Eastern Shore Land Use and Preservation
  • Land Protection for All
  • Board Spotlight: Jules Hendrix
  • New Regional Trail Map Shows Existing and Potential Trails for a Growing Network
  • Saving Maryland’s Tidal Salt Marshes
  • From the President: The Eastern Shore’s Most Urgent Conservation Need in 2024
  • Review: ESLC Forests and Forestry Workshop
  • Volunteer Spotlight: Roger Bollman
  • Where the Wood Drake Rests: Wetland Restoration & Conservation on the Eastern Shore
  • ESLC Partners with Urban 3 to Study Eastern Shore Land Use
  • 106 Acres Protected Forever in Quaker Neck, Kent County
  • An Autumn Stroll at Bohemia River State Park