Model for Urban Sustainability: A South Bend Unity Gardens Initiative

Student: Genevieve Miller (Crum), 2015-2016

Sponsor: Unity Gardens, South Bend, IN

The Unity Gardens Sustainable Urban Environment Project is a model aimed at providing a comprehensive plan for environmental, economic and social sustainability in urban environments. The plan involves the use of abandoned urban lots to grow native plants and tree saplings for later transplant into public city areas at a significantly lower cost to the city than at present. This will contribute to soil and brownfield remediation, water conservation efforts, city beautification, and the creation of employment opportunities for local residents, especially in disadvantaged communities. It will also save the city and the taxpayers a significant amount of money that is currently being spent on trees for public spaces.