Greening Vacant Lots Linked to Reduced Gun Violence

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2011/11/greening-vacant-lots-linked-reduced-gun-violence/526/



We all know about modern theories of policing that suggests signs of deterioration in a community – vacant lots, boarded-up buildings and, most famously, broken windows – communicate to would-be criminals, “No one cares about this place, so you don’t have to either.” A related theory suggests that the presence of all these same “physical incivilities” promotes weak social ties among residents, increasing crime and discouraging the kind of community self-policing that Jane Jacobs celebrated.

These theories seem sensible. You’re more likely to drop a candy wrapper on a sidewalk that’s already covered in trash. But there hasn’t been a lot of quality, hard data to back this up.

A new study, published online this week in the American Journal of Epidemiology, offers some of the more promising evidence. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania studied a 10-year project in Philadelphia to convert vacant lots into park space. They found that gun-related assaults significantly declined in areas around the lots that had been greened. Vandalism and criminal mischief also significantly fell off.

Residents in some areas around these newly converted green spaces also reported feeling less stress and getting more exercise – presumably some of the byproducts of a neighborhood reclaiming its streets from crime.

[Warpy]

1. That's what they push in my part of town, too

that keeping your front yard presentable lowers the expectation that it's a poor area therefore the thugs can do whatever they want, nobody cares any more. It seems to work pretty well. Nobody cares what color you use or whether or not you have to use spare van seats as porch furniture as long as it's kept reasonably tidy.

It's also a lot more pleasant to walk around a neighborhood that looks decent and there are pedestrians here all hours of the day since it's one of the few areas of this city with sidewalks and amenities within walking distance.

[applegrove]

2. What about community gardens?