A new report examines a range of strategies that limit the displacement effects of park projects.
Laura Bliss writes about park projects in cities across the country that have led to rising property values and gentrification, such as the High Line in New York City and the BeltLine in Atlanta. "This pattern of new parks creating housing pressure might lead observers to wonder whether such investments are a good idea, if they threaten to displace the very people they were intended to serve."
A new report from researchers at the University of Utah and UCLA looks at anti-displacement strategies related to park projects. "Based on the report’s findings, 'greening without gentrification' calls for actions that are common in broader efforts to stabilize changing neighborhoods," notes Bliss.
Bliss says that anticipating and preventing displacement is a shift in thinking. Previously, a boost in property values was considered a positive outcome of a park project. "The good news is, park developers are beginning to realize the need to evaluate all of these side-effects before they break ground," she adds.
FULL STORY: How to Build a New Park So Its Neighbors Benefit
How To Prevent ‘Green Gentrification’: Lessons from the BeltLine
For one author, the key is focusing on affordable housing from the start.
Beltline Surpasses Annual Affordable Housing Goal
The Atlanta Beltline agency is actively working to prevent the displacement of longtime residents along the trail system, where property values are rising rapidly.
How to Avoid Green Gentrification
New parks are great—but some projects displace the very people the green spaces are meant to serve.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research