Green gentrification cycle: Double-edged sword of environmental justice

Living near green spaces improves mental health, reduces mortality, and boosts lifetime earnings. Cities have built green spaces in low-income areas to reduce health and economic disparities, but this often leads to "green gentrification," displacing original residents. ESS Professor Tim Collins along with City & Metropolitan Planning Professor Alessandro Rigolon propose a "green gentrification cycle," showing gentrification can precede or follow greening efforts. They found that in cities like Chicago and LA, new parks are often built in areas already gentrifying, suggesting green gentrification is sometimes intentional.

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