Skip to content

Management Zones 

What is a Management Zone?

A management zone is a designated area within a larger landscape that is cared for using specific strategies based on its natural conditions, ecological value, and how people interact with it. Rather than treating the entire greenspace the same way, management zones allow us to work with the land—responding to differences in soil, water, slope, existing vegetation, infrastructure, and community needs.

Primary Purpose

Each zone has a primary purpose—such as protecting stream health, supporting wildlife, growing food, or creating welcoming community spaces—and is managed in a way that best supports that purpose. This approach creates clearer expectations for how each area is used and experienced.

 The greenspace has 6 management zones, each with their primary focus.  

A. Stream & Bank Zone

Primary focus: Stability, shade, aquatic health

  • No mowing except access points

  • Bioengineered stabilization where erosion is active

  • Native sedges, rushes, willows, dogwoods

  • Attention to stream habitat

  • Educational signage

B. Riparian Buffer Zone (to 30 feet)

Primary focus: Filtration, wildlife habitat

  • Multi‑layer planting

    • wetland herbaceous plants + wet tolerating shrubs + shrubs and short trees (transmission line runs length of the right stream bank)

  • Rain gardens to filter stormwater from street drain

  • Wildlife habitat (birds, bats, etc)

  • Minimal paths, soft surfaces only

  • Log seating

  • Wildlife cameras

  • Educational signage / outdoor classrooms

C. Meadow & Pollinator Zone

Primary focus: Pollinators, aesthetics, community use

  • Ideal for transmission line
    (zone 1)

  • Native warm‑season grasses and herbaceous plants

  • Log seating

  • Current “rabbitat”

  • Educational signage / outdoor classrooms

D. Food Forrest Zone

Primary focus: edible plants, fruits, nuts for wildlife and humans

  • Varied location (more centralized, but varied based on growth needs)

  • Log seating

  • Educational signage / outdoor classrooms

E. Community Use Zone

Primary focus: People + coexistence

  • Mown or wood chipped paths and spaces, gathering nodes, seating

  • Clear sightlines for safety

  • Dog‑friendly edges

  • Log seating

  • Outdoor classroom for children and students

  • Educational signage

F. Large Tree Zone

 Primary focus: Avoiding disrupting transmission & distribution lines + benefits of large trees 

  • Work with KU to designate areas where large trees, such as sycamore can be planted

 

Exploring Our Stream