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GREEN TOURISM PROJECT AS PART OF SMART URBAN GROWTH CLASS Abstract: The Strategies for Smart Urban Growth and Redevelopment class under took a class project for the fall 2009 semester to assist the Arlington County Convention and Visitors service in developing a green tourism program for Arlington. The project was guided by the instructor and involved a collaborative partnership with the county. A number of information exchange meetings were held during the semester including an In-progress-Review the end of October and Final Recommendations Briefing at the end of November as well as a special meeting with the Director of the County’s Department of Economic Development. This project was closely aligned with the course class material but did require extensive literature review and analysis of the green tourism experience in other parts of the county. The class was divided into three teams for the first part of the project to develop strategies for; 1) transportation, 2) hotels and restaurants and 3) special destinations. The teams than came together in the development and presentation of the final recommendations to the county. The county was very pleased with the effort and the students felt they got more value out of the course with are real world project which represented 30% of their grade. The paper describes the process used in the project, an assessment of its effectiveness and the specific recommendation outcomes.

Key Words: Smart growth, urban redevelopment, green tourism, class project

Scope and Description of Course:

This course addresses polices, concepts, practices, and tools for smart growth sustainable urban planning and provides an understanding for how to apply these to urban communities. The sustainable urban development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations to come. In other words, it is the development and restoration of urban areas that will meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The course addresses a number of urban design concepts for smart growth and sustainable development including balanced land use planning principals; importance of an overall transportation strategy; providing urban tree coverage, leveraging public transportation accessibility; providing a spectrum of housing availability; integration of office, retail and housing units; reduction of urban area environmental foot print; use of recycled, reused, reusable, green and sustainable products; integration of renewable solar energy and wind power into buildings and government systems; transit oriented development; innovative low impact storm water management practices; reduction in urban heat island effects; urban water resource management; and energy efficiency and conservation. Specific examples on sustainable practices and policies reviewed and assessed in the class include:

≠ Balanced land use planning principals ≠ Importance of an overall transportation strategy ≠ Leveraging public transportation accessibility ≠ Broad spectrum housing availability ≠ Integration of office, retail and housing units

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Roper, W. (2010, June), Green Tourism Project As Part Of Smart Urban Growth Class Paper presented at 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. 10.18260/1-2--16948