College of Arts & Sciences

Amina Fong

College of Arts & Sciences

Communications and Political Science

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christian Hunold Politics

Green Gentrification in Urban Cities

In highly densely populated cities across the world, landscapes and infrastructure are constantly redesigned and renewed in order to accommodate growing cities. This includes many different types of spaces and features, such as urban green spaces. Green spaces have diverse purposes, including revitalizing communities, providing places for physical activity, and connecting humans to nature and wildlife. However, an unexpected and often overlooked result of green spaces is a story that rings true for many low income neighborhoods: green gentrification. This research project focuses on the effects of green spaces in urban areas. There is also a review of cases in which additions of green spaces have led to the area’s gentrification. Additionally, this paper includes an analysis of a survey distributed to residents of Philadelphia, PA in response to the newly built Rail Park. Research suggests that, despite the potential for green spaces to lead to gentrification, Philadelphia residents still value their green spaces and believe that they make great additions to their neighborhoods.