A green recovery in Cunningham Park: Drury University responds to the Joplin tornado

Abstract

We are all potentially connected to an unwanted disaster situation since no region is immune from some adverse risk. Most Americans live in areas that are exposed to hazards whether naturally occurring or through involvement with humankind. Natural hazards may be in the form of wild fires, heat waves, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes, while human intervention awakens hazards such as oil rig accidents, the physical neglect of buildings and infrastructure, or acts of terrorism. A disaster occurs when a hazard has a high degree of harm to human life, its shelter, or to ecosystems such as human lives lost, reconstruction costs of buildings and infrastructure, or the corresponding loss of fauna and flora (Hedges 2011). However, a disaster may seem distant until it happens in your backyard. One such disaster is the 2011 Joplin (Missouri) tornado. The tornado was particularly destructive: the community was plunged into darkness with over 10,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, and the loss of 161 lives. The focus of this case study is on the Joplin community’s recovery and response at ground zero of the tornado, Cunningham Park. The Volunteer Tribute Garden and the Butterfly Garden and Overlook are two major designbuild projects that helped coalesce a community in turmoil. The narrative of the greening projects, their lessons learned, and recommendations are provided, beginning with the scale of the disaster event and some of the initial helping hands.

Parent Publication

• Green Readiness, Response, and Recovery: A Collaborative Synthesis

Citation

Sooter, Traci; Hedges, Keith; Chicaraishi, Nancy. 2019. A green recovery in Cunningham Park: Drury University responds to the Joplin tornado. In: Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hines, Sarah J.; Maddox, David, eds. Green readiness, response, and recovery: A collaborative synthesis. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-185. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 44-57. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-P-185-paper3.