Trees fight crime!
A 2001 study finds that the presence of trees and maintained yards reduces crime on a particular block:
“Buildings with high levels of vegetation had 52% fewer total crimes, 48% fewer property crimes, and 56% fewer violent crimes than buildings with low levels of vegetation."
“(Researchers) compared street blocks with higher and lower levels of high-maintenance gardening and found fewer problems reported on street blocks with higher levels of high-maintenance gardening.”
Does this take into account that streets with greater vegetation and higher levels of high-maintenance gardening are more likely to be found in more affluent neighborhoods with lower crime rates!
Isn’t it amazing someone actually got funding to do such a study…?
The study is a bit more in depth than that. Part of the study looked at different apartment buildings in the now-demolished Ida B. Wells public housing project in Chicago, and compared data from apartment buildings with and without trees.
Trees help neighborhoods fight crime because it gives law abiding citizens a reason to be out on the street.
As we maintain the trees and sidewalks, we get the opportunity to observe and report the activities of pushers, pimps, hookers, car thieves, vandals, etc.
And because we’re out there frequently tending to the trees and sidewalks, it makes the block less inviting to the criminal element.
It also gives us a chance to talk to our law-abiding neighbors and get to know them better, which has its own crime-fighting attributes.
This has been my experience in Church Hill, and I venture to guess there are many other folks who can say the same.
I speak for the trees !
Up here on Venable gardening has been a way to meet neighbors. Over the last couple of years I’ve shared not only flower plants for people wanting to try gardening, but I routinely share tomatoes (even have a guy from Church Hill House who motors up in his wheel chair) and this year apples and grapes. All sorts of people, young and old, stop to ask questions and conversation usually wanders from plants to neighborhood issues.
Amazing! I’m not sure the maintenance aspect would account for lower crime rates in a public housing project – residents typically don’t maintain the grounds, and established trees don’t need much maintenance. If anyone sees any other studies corroborating this one, let me know!
I am just glad to know they don’t cause cancer. This statistic reminds me of all the statistics that says char-broiled meat causes cancer. If there is a grant for it, we can prove it, by any means possible.
You can be part of a great group of Richmond Tree Stewards by taking a class starting in February of next year. Learn all about it: http://treestewards.rrpfoundation.org/get_involved.html
I fail to see how this is true. My yard here in Church Hill is well maintained as are my neighbor’s yards. In the past two weeks, however, I have had my (new) grill vandalized (the one it replaced was stolen in broad day light a year ago) and the American flag flying on my front porch was stolen. Who the hell steals an American flag for God’s sake?!??!? We decided to pour a cement block in back of the house and bolt down the new grill when we got it. I guess the ass who tried to steal it this time didn’t like that so they broke two of the legs off…
Church Hill Neighbore can help increase the city tree canopy by 1) identifying empty Tree Wells near them and 2) sending the location information to tom@firelightent.com by Septemer 30th. Give the address of the nearest house number. This fall there is an opportunity to get free trees if folks are willing to care for them ( water / weed). Trees will be planted late 2009 or early 2010 (till Feb 2010.)
The funny thing about this is that if you ask the Police department about vegetation, they don’t want it. It provides cover for the criminals to hide in until they strike.
I’ve planted many trees in Church Hill and paid for a few more to be planted. You’ll see me outside watering them, so maybe that is the deterrent?
@12, I agree a tiny bit with the Police, but only as it impacts the lower branches on younger trees near.
The solution is to “raise the tree canopy”.
Simply prune these lower branches so folks can’t hide behind em (I have a few I need to cut back now over in Union Hill).
I still find the overall positives of active tree well/sidewalk/tree maintenance far outweigh any downsides folks might see.
Well, it seems many folks in Union Hill are committed to having trees planted in the area, mainly on the City designated “Gateway”, Venable St. I’m hoping trees and maintained sidewalks do deter crime.
@12, the report references your concern.