How can the replacement of public lots with planted green spaces promote environmental awareness and encourage social involvement in Long Beach, NY?

Abstract

The design research looks at the benefits that vacant lots can bring to a community when transformed into a planted green space near a coastal city. It explores how green spaces can have environmental benefits and encourage social involvement for the residents and visitors of Long Beach, NY. Vacant lots provide a blank canvas which can be an opportunity to create community gatherings for events, entertaining, gardening, live music, relaxing, art exhibitions, and more. Vacant lots can be transformed from unpleasant spaces into desirable destinations. The city of Long Beach is located on the South Shore of Long Island, NY and is a city adjacent to the beach which attracts visitors in the warmer months. The city could use green spaces for the community and public to enjoy. In October of 2012, hurricane Sandy devastated the area, which stripped away most of its vegetation including many trees. This is an opportunity to develop and introduce green infrastructure to the area by creating a space for a sense of gathering for the community and promoting ecofriendly design principles. This city would be improved and replenished with vegetation that serves as a functional space that works with the natural environment. By creating green spaces and utilizing these abandoned lots and street medians, this public greenspace can bring the community together and promote environmental awareness simultaneously.