Lifestyle and Language Barriers Influence Community Engagement with Green Infrastructure.
Sponsor
UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant EP/K013661/1, with contributions from theEnvironment Agency and Rivers Agency, Northern Ireland) and part of the Portland-Vancouver Urban Long-Term Research Area Exploratory Project (ULTRA-Ex; US National Science Foundation grant #0948983). Data analysis and writing time were allocated under Urban Flood Resilience in an Uncertain Future (EPSRC grant EP/P004180/1).
Published In
Ambio
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
5-20-2023
Abstract
Few studies have focused on value structures, experiences, and cultural diversity as it relates to bioswale planning and implementation. We used 'Point of Opportunity Interactions' to understand previously undocumented views of the Cantonese-speaking immigrant community regarding bioswale design and use for stormwater management in Portland, Oregon, USA. Approximately half of participants were not aware of bioswale function. Maintenance costs and aesthetics were noted concerns, but parking and safety were not. Lack of outreach materials in the Chinese language(s), evening and weekend work schedules, and lack of clarity about maintenance responsibility were among barriers to public participation. Overall, lack of trust for the city and city officials was apparent, and hindered outreach and engagement. Emphasis on informality and place-based data collection near bioswales as neutral outdoors spaces, and proximate to participant residences, facilitated communication with this 'hard-to-reach' population and revealed information that would have gone unknown using traditional outreach strategies.
Rights
© 2023 The Author(s)
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1007/s13280-023-01877-6
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40529
Publisher
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2023
Citation Details
Everett, G., Matsler, A. M., Chan, F. K. S., Naclerio, M. A., Morzillo, A. T., & Lamond, J. E. (2023). Lifestyle and language barriers influence community engagement with green infrastructure. Ambio, 1-11.