Green Stormwater Infrastructure Reduces Crime
Forest Service scientists tested the effects of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) installation on health and safety outcomes across Philadelphia from 2000 to 2011. Locations near green stormwater infrastructure sites constructed between 2000 and 2011 experienced a significant decrease in occurrences of narcotics possession compared to control locations. This analysis suggests that GSI installation may be a deterrent to the possession and manufacture of illegal drugs in public spaces. Although safety outcomes are not typically included in cost-benefit assessments of GSI programs, the findings indicate that they could be included as GSI programs such as the one in Philadelphia move forward.
|The impact of green stormwater infrastructure installation on surrounding health and safety||(publication)|
Forest Service Partners