In the city of Flint, depopulation has led to over 14,000 vacant lots within the city, with resident and city planning goals prioritizing garden development and re-greening (Imagine Flint Master Plan). Specifically, in the Eastside neighborhood of Flint, the Eastside Improvement Association led by volunteer executive director and Eastside resident Megan Heyza, has developed The Porch Project to repair and replace the porches of residents on her block with neighborhood-led goals of improving safety and aesthetics. Tonietto built off of previous work in Detroit, Michigan to develop front-yard garden plans in partnership with Ms. Heyza and community members. To date, landscaping enhancements and garden installations at 20 homes on the Eastside of Flint were made possible through The Porch Project.

Landscaping enhancements not only provide a signal of care but have an effect on individuals’ perceptions of the property, neighborhood, and community. These perceptions are inextricably intertwined with perceptions of personal safety, property values, and the propensity to be active in the community. These gardens additionally provide biodiversity support for native pollinator conservation. Landscaping enhancements, such as those installed via The Porch Project are known to increase neighborhood engagement, with residents walking more in areas with well-maintained gardens with increased perceptions of safety, as well as increases in home sale prices. Read the 2018 article by UM-Flint News.

Learn more about the Porch Project