Is your mind in the gutter?

If so, you might be interested in a stormwater management competition, finishing up this week. Submit your ideas on smarter solutions for street runoff by February 15th and help NYC divert some stormwater from over 6,000 miles of streets in the city. If you’re a follower of GreenHomeNYC’s monthly forum, you might recall our August ’08 session on this topic. Find our more about the compeitions at www.mindsinthegutter.org, and read on for details of the judging panel. Here’s the call for submissions:

The Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (S.W.I.M.) Coalition asks, “How can we utilize the existing 6,000 miles of roadway and 12,000 miles of sidewalk as an opportunity for stormwater management New York City?” Minds in the Gutter seeks your innovative ideas for managing runoff from NYC roadways within the public right of way. If you are a professional engineer, a student, a community leader, a forester, a pedestrian…if you have an inspired solution for diverting stormwater from roadways before reaching the sewer, we want to hear from you! Your submission will be evaluated by our esteemed jury:

1. Nette Compton, Senior Project Manager for Design at NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and Design Trust Fellow for Designing Parks for the 21st Century


2. Karen Engel, Green Infrastructure Coordinator at NY State Department of Environmental Conservation
3. Christine Gaspar, Executive Director of the Center for Urban Pedagogy
4. Aaron Koch, Policy Advisor for Water at the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability


5. Wade R McGillis, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University
6. John McLaughlin, Director of the Office of Ecological Service in the Bureau of Environmental Planning and Analysis for NYC Department of Environmental Protection
7. Margaret Newman AIA, LEED AP, Chief of Staff for NYC Dept Of Transportation
8. Alexandros E. Washburn, AIA, Chief Urban Designer for NYC Department of City Planning

Selected designs will be included in an exhibition and booklet that will showcase a broad range of opportunity in the public right of way. The exhibit will be displayed on April 22, 2010 at the Museum of the City of New York in an evening that will include a viewing of the selected designs and a panel discussion among expert dreamers and do-ers in the field of stormwater management. S.W.I.M. Coalition is dedicated to ensuring swimmable waters around New York City through natural, sustainable storm water management practices in our neighborhoods. This project is made possible through the support of The New York City Environmental Fund.