Project Grant 00A00600

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARP FUNDED GRANT AGREEMENT IS TO USE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) APPROPRIATIONS TO PARTNER WITH THE YALE UNIVERSITY URBAN DESIGN WORKGROUP TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS TO ADDRESS AIR QUALITY AND URBAN HEAT ISLAND ISSUES IMPACTING LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE PROJECT, CONDUCTED BY THE GREATER DWIGHT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BASED IN NEW HAVEN, CT, WILL DEVELOP RESEARCH ON LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING AIR QUALITY MONITORING; AND DEVELOP A WEB-BASED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING DOCUMENT, INCLUDING A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS), REAL-TIME DASHBOARD OF AIR QUALITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR USE BY LOCAL RESIDENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE RESIDENT UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND GREEN SPACE FROM ADDED TREES, PLANTS, AND SHADE; AND EXPAND SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA) 103(B)(3): PEOPLE WITH MODERATE-TO-SEVERE OR UNCONTROLLED ASTHMA ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED FROM COVID-19. AIR POLLUTION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO ASTHMA. BY ADDRESSING AIR POLLUTION IN CAA 103(B)(3) PROJECTS, THE CHANCES OF SEVERE ILLNESS FROM COVID-19 ARE REDUCED. ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT HAS THREE COMPONENTS: TO RESEARCH AND DOCUMENT URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IMPACT RESIDENT HEALTH, CONTRIBUTING TO A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF UNDERLYING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING EXPANDING A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE AIR QUALITY MONITORING NETWORK TO PROVIDE A NEW, COMMUNITY-OWNED DATASET THAT WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING AND FUTURE PLANNING EFFORTS; TO ENGAGE AND INFORM NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS IN A PLANNING PROCESS THAT CREATES LEARNING FOR PLANNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH A SERIES OF OPEN CHARRETTE-STYLE ACTIVITIES, OPEN HOUSES, WALKING TOURS, A SCAVENGER HUNT, AND MEETINGS FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING A YOUTH EDUCATION COMPONENT TO DEVELOP AN ACTIONABLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WITH PRIORITIES THAT GUIDES FUTURE ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE: CONDUCTING SIX PLANNING SESSIONS, PURCHASING AND INSTALLING SEVEN AIR MONITORS, COLLECTING AIR QUALITY DATA, CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO DEVELOP AN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE GREATER DWIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD, CREATE A NEW WEBSITE, AND POST AIR QUALITY DATA AND ANALYSIS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY TO THE NEW WEBSITE TO EDUCATE LOCAL RESIDENTS. SUBRECIPIENT:A SUB AWARD TO YALE UNIVERSITY URBAN DESIGN WORKSHOP TO COLLECT AIR MONITORING DATA, ANALYZE TRENDS, AND PUBLISH THEIR STUDY ON A NEW WEBSITE.OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE (1) INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE ON AMBIENT AIR QUALITY ISSUES TO 20 COMMUNITY LEADERS AND 250 COMMUNITY MEMBERS; (2) IDENTIFYING DETERMINANTS OF A HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD; (3) PROVIDING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AS THEY RELATE TO IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT; (4) RAISING AWARENESS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD, MUNICIPAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN GREATER DWIGHT TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY; (5) IDENTIFY HOW URBAN FORM AND USE IMPACTS HEALTH, EMPOWERING NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCACY; AND (6) IDENTIFY FUTURE PROJECTS INCLUDING TREE CANOPY AND IMPROVING BOTH OPEN SPACE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE FAMILIES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD OF GREATER DWIGHT, WITHIN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. AN INVOLVED AND EDUCATED COMMUNITY IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO PARTICIPATE IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT.