Green Streets are roads that include green infrastructure – natural and human-made – that capture rainwater and direct it to plants and trees, acting as a natural filter that cleans the water before it makes its way into local waterways. It is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing the impact of wet weather events and provides social, economic and environmental benefits.
Green Streets are being introduced throughout Toronto, replacing ‘traditional streets’ that were designed to quickly direct stormwater into storm sewer systems (e.g., gutters, drains or pipes) that discharge directly into our waterways, often taking contaminants (e.g., dirt, oil, grease) with it.
The environmental benefits of Green Streets include: