Transforming Downtown Fargo: Designing Green Streets for a Sustainable Future

Author

• Taylor Bay

Files

Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture

College

Arts and Sciences

Department

Landscape Architecture, Disaster Resiliency & Emergency Management (LADREM)

Faculty Advisor

Juncheng Lu

Studio Coordinator

Jay Kost

Faculty Chair

Dominic Fischer

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

URI

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Abstract

Downtown Fargo, North Dakota’s streets are mostly concrete and asphalt, which means when it rains, water runs off, causing flooding. The area is heavily car-focused, making it tough for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate comfortably. There is a lack of protection from the elements as well as a lack of seasonal interest in the area. This project tackles these issues by designing a green street along First Ave N that integrates stormwater management, circulation improvements, and seasonal elements. The goal is to create a more sustainable, walkable, and visually engaging space that connects to Fargo’s identity.

The design uses bioswales, green roofs, and cisterns to catch and filter runoff, keeping water on-site longer and reducing the risk of flooding. Widened sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and raised crosswalks make streets more walkable. Public art, created by NDSU students and rotated each semester, adds seasonal interest and a sense of local character.

Methods included site analysis, research, and case studies focused on making the space adaptable to Fargo’s drastic winters and hot summers. The proposed design helps manage stormwater and circulation but also creates a more engaging, community-focused streetscape that can change and evolve over time.

Recommended Citation

Bay, Taylor, "Transforming Downtown Fargo: Designing Green Streets for a Sustainable Future" (2025). Landscape Architecture Theses. 21.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/landscape-architecture-theses/21