From front yards to street corners: revitalizing neighborhoods through community-based land stewardship (original) (raw)
Columbus Community Geography Center, 2012
Many aspects of community life are negatively affected by vacant lots, to include neighborhood vitality, crime rates, and the viability of commercial districts. Vacant properties have been identified by both elected and appointed officials as offering significant challenges to neighborhood revitalization and improvement. A variety of techniques have been used to address these problems, one such approach is the development of community gardens. Converting vacant lots into community gardens can improve the quality of life among neighborhood residents, help build social capital, and improve neighboring property values. Beginning with a review of the impact of community gardens and their management, this report identifies how other U.S. cities have converted vacant lots and how they are managed; this report also documents local community garden efforts in Columbus, and suggests possible courses of action for the community to consider.