Small but Mighty

It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of space to have a big impact. Here we showcase some of the smallest projects in the Landscape Performance Series along with Fast Facts on the benefits of even modest amounts of green.

1. Case Study Brief

   

   Central Wharf Plaza

   Boston, Massachusetts

   “At just 13,100 sf, this small plaza connects Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway with the Inner Harbor waterfront, serving some 280 pedestrians per hour. It also lowers ground-level temperatures by 10.4°F with tree canopy cover that shades 94% of the site. Pretty cool.”

2. Case Study Brief

   

   ASLA Headquarters Green Roof

   Washington, District of Columbia

   “The unique ‘waves’ aren’t the only thing that make this green roof seem bigger than its 3,000 sf. It is the subject of ongoing research, has hosted over 5,000 visitors, and has an extensive multimedia educational component that receives 35,000 annual pageviews.”

3. Case Study Brief

   

   Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit

   Los Angeles, California

   “This retrofit demonstrates that transportation infrastructure improvements can be combined with stormwater management to prevent flooding, improve walkability, and beautify the street. The street and residential properties along this one city block capture and filter runoff from a 40-acre area.”

4. Case Study Brief

   

   Erie Street Plaza

   Milwaukee, Wisconsin

   “The City had lofty ambitions for this 0.25-acre former parking lot: create a significant public place that would become a key component of Milwaukee’s waterfront and new development in the Third Ward. The simple, inventive, and open-ended design does just that.”

5. Fast Fact

   In a study of a Chicago public housing development, buildings with high levels of trees and greenery had 48% fewer property crimes and 56% fewer violent crimes than identical apartments surrounded by barren land...

   “The greenery in this study was trees and grass, and the research suggests the exciting possibility that small-scale tree planting and beautification efforts in barren inner-city neighborhoods could help to create safer communities.”

6. Fast Fact

   An analysis of the impact of greening 4,436 vacant lots in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2008 found that vacant lot greening was associated with residents' reporting significantly less stress and more exercise in select...

   “The vacant lots that were greened averaged just 1,800 sf in size and yet correlated with improved health outcomes.”

7. Fast Fact

   Research in Tel Aviv determined that the presence of trees cooled the air from between 0.5°F on a heavily trafficked street to 2°F in a small (0.37 acre) garden. The study also found that the cooling effects could...

   “The cooling effect of small groups of trees was noticeable not only within the wooded areas but also in their treeless surroundings.”