Can restoring vacant lots help reduce crime? An examination of a program in Baltimore, MD

Anton Kvit; Anne E. Corrigan; Dexter H. Locke; Frank C. Curriero; Kristin Mmari

doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127630

Can restoring vacant lots help reduce crime? An examination of a program in Baltimore, MD

Anton Kvit, Anne E. Corrigan, Dexter H. Locke, Frank C. Curriero, Kristin Mmari

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Urban green spaces have previously been linked to reduction in crime and improvements in neighborhood environments. This study considered if the Care-A-Lot (CAL) program in Baltimore City, which incentivizes local community groups to maintain and green vacant lots, reduces violent and property crime. Compared to a 2016–2017 baseline, city block groups with CAL programs saw a significantly larger decrease in crime compared to matched block groups with no CAL programs both in 2018 and 2019. These results were found to be robust through a series of sensitivity analyses and add to the literature stressing the positive social impact of green spaces.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	127630
Journal	Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
Volume	74
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127630
State	Published - Aug 2022

Keywords

Baltimore
Care-A-Lot
Crime
Greening

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Forestry
Ecology
Soil Science

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10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127630

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title = "Can restoring vacant lots help reduce crime? An examination of a program in Baltimore, MD",

abstract = "Urban green spaces have previously been linked to reduction in crime and improvements in neighborhood environments. This study considered if the Care-A-Lot (CAL) program in Baltimore City, which incentivizes local community groups to maintain and green vacant lots, reduces violent and property crime. Compared to a 2016–2017 baseline, city block groups with CAL programs saw a significantly larger decrease in crime compared to matched block groups with no CAL programs both in 2018 and 2019. These results were found to be robust through a series of sensitivity analyses and add to the literature stressing the positive social impact of green spaces.",

keywords = "Baltimore, Care-A-Lot, Crime, Greening",

author = "Anton Kvit and Corrigan, {Anne E.} and Locke, {Dexter H.} and Curriero, {Frank C.} and Kristin Mmari",

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year = "2022",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127630",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Urban Forestry and Urban Greening",

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AU - Kvit, Anton

AU - Corrigan, Anne E.

AU - Locke, Dexter H.

AU - Curriero, Frank C.

AU - Mmari, Kristin

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - Urban green spaces have previously been linked to reduction in crime and improvements in neighborhood environments. This study considered if the Care-A-Lot (CAL) program in Baltimore City, which incentivizes local community groups to maintain and green vacant lots, reduces violent and property crime. Compared to a 2016–2017 baseline, city block groups with CAL programs saw a significantly larger decrease in crime compared to matched block groups with no CAL programs both in 2018 and 2019. These results were found to be robust through a series of sensitivity analyses and add to the literature stressing the positive social impact of green spaces.

AB - Urban green spaces have previously been linked to reduction in crime and improvements in neighborhood environments. This study considered if the Care-A-Lot (CAL) program in Baltimore City, which incentivizes local community groups to maintain and green vacant lots, reduces violent and property crime. Compared to a 2016–2017 baseline, city block groups with CAL programs saw a significantly larger decrease in crime compared to matched block groups with no CAL programs both in 2018 and 2019. These results were found to be robust through a series of sensitivity analyses and add to the literature stressing the positive social impact of green spaces.

KW - Baltimore

KW - Care-A-Lot

KW - Crime

KW - Greening

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ER -

Can restoring vacant lots help reduce crime? An examination of a program in Baltimore, MD

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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