This is a collaborative, academic project created among multiple disciplines to explore green infrastructure (GI). The project includes types of green infrastructure, literature review of historic theories on implementation of GI, inequities caused by ecogentrification, case studies evaluating the success of GI projects and retrofits, and policy suggestions to ensure equitable insertion of GI into existing communities. The handbook takes a stance on equitable greening and includes an equity directive for designers and developers to follow during throughout the entire architectural process.
Equitable Greening
Stance
All communities deserve access to quality greenspaces that are tailored to their community’s needs and serviced with green infrastructure typologies reflecting those needs. Regardless of scale, green spaces must be designed to mitigate consequences of typical beautification retrofits or targeted redevelopment that result in drastic changes to a community’s socioeconomic fabric. Green infrastructure can increase public and mental health, bolster climate resiliency, and connect communities if implemented in an equitable fashion. Equity is key in preventing community estrangement or displacement and must be considered at each step of the design and development processes.
Equity Directive
Identify green space access and quality disparities
Educate design team on historical and present inequities in local community
Acknowledge community demographics and diversity
Incorporate community input on green infrastructure needs and encourage community involvement from start to finish
Assess barriers to use of green space and community participation
Prioritize place, community need based design and development
Mitigate potential consequences of design/development (i.e. affordability, eco-gentrification, etc.)
Utilize policy and municipality protections to minimize existing community displacement prior to construction of the space
Construct greenspace in alignment with community values and aesthetic
Implement "cues to care" for designed green space, ensuring successful maintenance of the space
2021
