Philadelphia sees 29% drop in gun violence near new green spaces

A Philadelphia green space program is yielding a surprising, positive side effect: reduced crime.

As Peter Yeung explains in Reasons to be Cheerful, the LandCare program, run by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and funded by the city, transforms vacant lots into neighborhood-scale green spaces. "By cleaning up the lots, authorities are deterring illegal dumping and also creating community assets, particularly for Black communities that don’t typically have access to green space, and improving mental health." The program works with community organizations to identify target areas and coordinate regular cleaning and upkeep. 

According to the article, "A study in 2018 found that there was a 29 percent reduction in gun violence and a 21 percent reduction in burglary in neighborhoods near LandCare lots, among other benefits. Separate research also found a 41.5 percent reduction in depression among residents living near the greened lots."

Roughly 60% of lots PHS works on are on public land and 40% are privately owned, so there are limits to how much the organization can do and how long they have access to the lot.