University-Community Partnerships for Environmental Justice: An example from the San Fernando Valley

Transcription

1 University-Community Partnerships for Environmental Justice: An example from the San Fernando Valley Zeynep Toker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Urban Studies and Planning Department, California State University, Northridge

2 C 1. Background: Community design 2. Courses: URBS 440, 450, 490C 3. Projects: 1. Pacoima Mixed Use 2. Pacoima Open Space 3. Walkability around San Fernando High School 4. Pacoima Wash 4. Benefits

3 models of community design 1 2 alinsky model consensus organizing model mobilizes communities assumption: people could be rallied in defense of their immediate interests seeks to establish partnerships between private and public sector leaders and community groups community design centers advocacy planning advocates disadvantaged groups as its recognized social responsibility community design centers

4 C

5 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use Community partner Pacoima Beautiful Project 2 Pacoima open space Community partner Pacoima Beautiful Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School Community partner San Fernando High School and Youth Speak! Project 4 Pacoima Wash Community partner Pacoima Beautiful

6 Los Angeles River and its 834 square mile watershed

7 CSUN

8 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use 2008

9 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use (number of participants: 35) COMMUNITY WORKSHOP APRIL 26 TH, 2008 INTERVIEWS (number of respondents: 339)

10 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use INTERVIEW OUTCOMES (N=339) Time spent outside of work and home was to: 85% shopping (31% P -79%) 83.8% meet with friends 77% restaurants (51% P -49%) 68.4% going to movies (13% P -87%) 51.3% meet with neighbors preserve in their neighborhood: 36.9% community 14.8% quietness/tranquility add to their neighborhood: 25.4% places to shop 20.8% parks/green spaces 6.5% places to accommodate kids activities remove from their neighborhood: 36% crime related problems 32.4% environmental pollution related problems

11 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use COMMUNITY WORKSHOP OUTCOMES (N=35) Environmental pollution problems: 19 Crime related problems: 13 The necessity for developing areas for kids activities: 12 The need for more park/ green space: 10 The need to improve streets: 8

12 Project 1 Pacoima Mixed use

13 Project 2 Pacoima Open Space with Dr. Pontikis Interior Design Program 2009

14 Project 2 Pacoima Open Space STREETSCAPE urban LAND USE analysis ACTIVITY NODES OPEN SPACE PUBLIC TRANSIT ROUTES AND STOPS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS STREET HIERARCHY SIDEWALK AND CROSSWALK QUALITY MAP

15 Project 2 Pacoima Open Space (number of participants: 33) COMMUNITY WORKSHOP APRIL 26 TH, 2009 INTERVIEWS (number of respondents: 158)

16 Project 2 Pacoima Open Space INTERVIEW OUTCOMES (N=158) INTERACTIVE DISPLAY OUTCOMES (N=33) DESIGN GAME OUTCOMES (N=33)

17 Project 2 Pacoima Open Space

18 Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School 2010

19 Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School urban analysis

20 Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School COGNITIVE MAPPING IN SAN FERNANDO HIGH SCHOOL (N=391)

21 Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School WALKABLE STREETS AROUND SAN FERNANDO HIGH SCHOOL 1. Make the street SAFE for pedestrians to walk: a. Protect pedestrians from high speed traffic while walking on the sidewalk b. Use traffic calming measures to enforce the target speed limit c. Protect pedestrians while crossing the street d. Protect pedestrians from pollution 2. Make the streets PLEASANT for pedestrians to walk: a. Make the streetscape configuration human scale b. Make the perceptual complexity of the streets high enough c. Make the sidewalks accommodating of pedestrians stationary activity d. Make the sidewalks foster coincidental interaction and socialization e. Make the sidewalks comfortable for pedestrians in different weather conditions 3. Make streets EASY to walk: a. Make the streets accessible according to ADA requirements b. Maintain the proper width of the walkable area without obstacles along the sidewalk c. Bring the surface of the sidewalk up to acceptable standards d. Maintain the length of the blocks walkable with frequent connections

22 Project 3 Walkability around San Fernando High School

23 Pacoima Wash Walking Tour and Mobile Workshop (October 24, 2009) Number of participants: 60 Organized by Pacoima Beautiful Funded by Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Policies for Livable active Community and Environments (PLACE) Program

24 Project 4 Pacoima Wash USER PREFERENCE DIAGRAM walking

25 Project 4 Pacoima Wash

26 Project 4 Pacoima Wash

27 C Projects: 1. Pacoima Mixed Use 2. Pacoima Open Space 3. Walkability around San Fernando High School 4. Pacoima Wash Benefits: 1. Benefits to the students 1. Academic success (learning by doing) 2. Sense of civic engagement (social responsibility) 3. Hands-on experience (preparation for professional work) 4. Reports for portfolios 2. Benefits to the community 1. Addressing a local problem with community members involvement 2. Having their voices heard 3. Having documentation of the problem and their involvement for further action 3. Benefits to the academic unit 1. Strengthening local partnerships 2. Attracting future students