Research | Landscape Performance Series
Fast Fact Library
The Landscape Performance Series Fast Fact Library is a searchable collection of landscape benefits derived from published research. Each includes a citation and links to the full article when available.
This resource is intended to showcase landscape’s multiple and sometimes surprising environmental, economic and social benefits and to help you make the case for sustainable landscape solutions in your community, with your clients, or on Capitol Hill.
Know of additional research that would make a compelling Fast Fact? Help build the database by sending your suggestions to lps@lafoundation.org.
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Public health & safetyAn analysis of the impact of a vacant lot greening program in Philadelphia found that neighborhoods where vacant lots were converted into small parks and community green spaces are associated with reduced crime when compared to neighborhoods with unimproved vacant lots. The greening of 4,436 vacant lots from 1999 to 2008 was associated with consistent reductions in gun assaults across all four sections of Philadelphia studied and with consistent reductions in vandalism in one section.
Branas, Charles C., Cheney, Rose A., Jackson, Tara D., MacDonald, John M., Tam, Vicky W., Ten Have, Thomas R., (2011). A Difference-in-Differences Analysis of Health, Safety, and Greening Vacant Urban Space. American Journal of Epidemiology, 174(11), 1296–1306.
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Public health & safetyAn analysis of the impact of greening 4,436 vacant lots in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2008 found that vacant lot greening was associated with residents’ reporting significantly less stress and more exercise in select sections of the city. Because newly greened vacant lots may serve as safe havens, residents may have felt less stress or may have seen greater outdoor opportunities for exercise in a cleaner, more attractive, and safer environment.
Branas, Charles C., Cheney, Rose A., Jackson, Tara D., MacDonald, John M., Tam, Vicky W., Ten Have, Thomas R., (2011). A Difference-in-Differences Analysis of Health, Safety, and Greening Vacant Urban Space. American Journal of Epidemiology, 174(11), 1296–1306.
Benefits
Water qualityAn experiment with 27 simulated wetlands in northern China demonstrated that constructed wetlands planted with macrophytes (large aquatic plants) remove more nutrients than unplanted wetland systems. Nutrient uptake by plants accounted for 14-52% of total Nitrogen removal and 11%-34% of total Phosphorus removal.
Li, Peizhi, Wu , Haiming, Xie, Huijun, Zhang, Jian, Zhang, Jinyong, Zhang, Bo, (2011.) Nutrient removal in constructed microcosm wetlands for treating polluted river water in northern China. Ecological Engineering, 37(4), 560-568.
Dry ponds remove particulates but not soluble pollutants and tend to export nitrogen. Dense vegetative cover within the basin, longer detention time, extended flow path, a cell with a carbon source, and creation of aerobic and anaerobic environments within the basin can improve the ability of dry ponds to remove nitrogen.
Cole Ekberg, Marci L., Collins, Kelly A., Grimm, Nancy B., Jontos, Robert J., Kaushal, Sujay S., Lawrence, Timothy J., Newcomer, Tamara A., Stander, Emilie K., (2010). Opportunities and challenges for managing nitrogen in urban stormwater: A review and synthesis. Ecological Engineering, 36, 1507-1519.
Grass swales, dry swales, and wet swales direct stormwater but also reduce most nitrogen-compounds from stormwater in small rainfall events. Vegetated open channels that function best to increase filtration, sedimentation, infiltration, and nitrogen reduction have a dense cover of vegetation with a well-developed root system, shallow slopes, low flow velocities, and increased detention time.
Cole Ekberg, Marci L., Collins, Kelly A., Grimm, Nancy B., Jontos, Robert J., Kaushal, Sujay S., Lawrence, Timothy J., Newcomer, Tamara A., Stander, Emilie K., (2010). Opportunities and challenges for managing nitrogen in urban stormwater: A review and synthesis. Ecological Engineering, 36, 1507-1519.
A study of houses in Portland, Oregon found that on average, street trees add 3% to sales price and reduce time-on-market (TOM) by 1.7 days. In addition, the study found that the benefits of street trees spill over to neighboring houses.
Butry, David T., Donovan, Geoffrey H., (2010). Trees in the city: Valuing street trees in Portland, Oregon. Landscape and Urban Planning, 94, 77-83.
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