Goals & Objectives:

The goal of this project is to develop informational/decision support resources -- including a geospatial web tool, flowchart, and case studies -- that help community members evaluate and access publicly-owned land for publicly beneficial activities, namely regenerative agriculture or other soil improvement activities.

Theoretical Justification, Social Benefit, or Significance:

There are many diverse parcels of land within the borders of Los Angeles County that are owned or managed by public agencies. These include vacant lots and parcels with under-utilized outdoor space in communities burdened with high levels of pollution and/or low access to basic amenities. Regenerative agriculture and soil improvement activities such as community composting can help address the simultaneous problems of vacant land, food insecurity, and unhealthy soil/water runoff in low-income and frontline communities. Community members throughout the County of Los Angeles are eager to undertake these beneficial activities, but find it difficult to identify sites where the landowner will allow such activities. By creating informational resources that highlight how and where to access suitable publicly-owned land, this project will support community action to transform neglected and underutilized lots from blight into valuable public assets.

Specific Activities & Duration:

The project will require:
• Geospatial analysis and programming that enables users to reference GIS data from many different sources to identify promising vacant and underutilized public sites
• Qualitative research (e.g., key informant interviews) and policy analysis on site regulations, restrictions, and processes for developing land use agreements
• Literature review of environmental science research on soil quality and remediation techniques
• Landscape site analysis and design to support case studies: in-depth assessment of site suitability based on factors such as land area, existence of perimeter barriers to protect against contamination, ADA compliance and vehicular circulation

Integrative Approach:

This project requires multiple skillsets to address the complex barriers that make it difficult for community members to access and use vacant publicly-owned land. The County has identified specific interdisciplinary methodologies for developing the requested deliverables, and we will invite community stakeholders to help advise the project and provide insights on what would make the final products useful.