Abstract Urban green space can provide multiple ecological functions such as stormwater management, relief from urban heat island effects, and habitat for wildlife, often within the same spatial area. However, little is known about how these areas in built projects should be maintained over time. How do activities in the process—from project planning through design and implementation—affect long-term care? To examine urban green infrastructure maintenance issues, this paper compares projects in four cities known for green solutions through (1) an evaluation of green infrastructure maintenance references in municipal and project plans, (2) post-occupancy site review of constructed projects, and (3) semi-structured interviews with participants charged with municipal and/or project planning, design, and management responsibilities. The practitioner stories identified issues in the development process with long-lasting implications. While projects met design goals for multifunctional urban landscapes, solutions appear to be at odds for a continued reliance on conventional maintenance procedures. Public/private partnerships for two of the projects provide a potential model for shared maintenance responsibilities. Competing interests among disciplines and agencies continue to drive decisions affecting long-term care. This research highlights the need for more comprehensive approaches to integrate planning goals with multiple and differing interests for urban green infrastructure, and further research in long-term care of urban green infrastructure.
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