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Association of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Installations in Philadelphia with Resident Perceptions of the Neighborhood Social Environment
Abstract

Association of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Installations in Philadelphia with Resident Perceptions of the Neighborhood Social Environment

Anneclaire J De Roos, Amber Palmer, Russell K Mcintire and Michelle C Kondo
Environmental health perspectives. Supplements, v 2024(1)
15 Aug 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1289/isee.2024.1548
url
https://doi.org/10.1289/isee.2024.1548View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)access removed by US government, 1 Dec 2025 Restricted

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is increasingly a preferred alternative to manage stormwater because of possible environmental, social, or health co-benefits that may come with its planted vegetation; however, evidence for such co-benefits is sparse. METHOD We conducted a cross-sectional study of the impact of GSI installations in Philadelphia on resident perceptions of the neighborhood social environment, among participants of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey from 2010-2018. GSI ‘exposure’ was estimated as the GSI footprint (total area) within 250m and 1km of participant homes, limited to installations completed before the survey year, and calculated separately for public- and private-owned GSI. Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to estimate the associations of interest, with adjustment for potential confounders at the individual- and neighborhood level. RESULTS GSI within 250m or 1 km was associated with participants reporting the presence of a park or outdoor space in their neighborhood that they are comfortable visiting during the day. For example, those living within 1km of GSI area above the median value (vs. no GSI) were 22% more likely to report presence of a park (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.38). GSI within 1km was associated with participants reporting that neighbors had ever worked together to improve the neighborhood. This association was only seen for private-owned GSI, and green roofs, specifically (green roof area >median vs. none: RR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.23). Private GSI within 1km was also associated with participants agreeing that “most people in my neighborhood can be trusted”, and “I feel that I belong and am a part of my neighborhood.” Overall, public-owned GSI was not associated, or only weakly associated, with neighborhood perceptions. CONCLUSIONS As there is little information on GSI impacts on neighborhoods, results from this analysis may elicit positive public perception and support of new GSI projects.

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