Adoption of New Urbanism in Oil City, Pennsylvania:

A combined Community and GIS analysis

Conducted by Alexandria Shreffler, Allegheny College

April 30^th, 2018

Overview

While studies in the literature use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for city planning purposes, few have incorporated the functionality of community survey data. In order to communicate the importance of sustainable development and improving quality of life for residents, communities should be included in city planning research as an invaluable source of knowledge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three specific aspects of new urbanism, community wellbeing, green space, and walkability, as they relate to the neighborhood environment from a dual community and spatial analysis perspective. First, an anonymous survey measuring community perceptions of wellbeing, green space, and walkability was advertised to Oil City residents (n=154). Street addresses were collected with surveys in order to conduct a spatial analysis. Then, a GIS approach was used to 1) spatially represent survey data, 2) determine neighborhood boundaries, and 3) objectively quantify green space and walkability. Green space was analyzed using tax parcel data in combination with multi-spectral imagery to determine quality as well as quantity. Walkability measures in GIS included slope, dwelling density, connectivity (intersection density), and land use diversity. It was predicted that all measures of wellbeing, green space, and walkability would be positively correlated between participants as well as between neighborhoods. It was also predicted that there would be differences between neighborhoods on all measures. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance of integrating community perceptions into city development projects.

Summary of Findings

• GIS measures for walkability and green space have a strong negative correlation, r = -0.92, contrary to the hypothesis which implies that more walkable neighborhoods have less green space
• Individuals living in communities with higher GIS green space scores also have higher wellbeing scores, but individuals who live in communities with higher walkability tend to have lower wellbeing scores
• Differences between neighborhoods indicated that Hasson is both the greenest and the least walkable, but Siverly had the highest community wellbeing scores

Recommendations

It is important to remember that correlations do not imply causation. In other words, this research simply identifies relationships and does not suggest direction (i.e. do communities have great parks because they have cohesive, healthy neighborhoods? Or do healthy green spaces directly impact the wellbeing of the neighborhood?). There could also be other factors impacting the relationship (i.e. should socioeconomic status be considered as a possible confound? Are wealthier neighborhoods both well and green?). Further study would need to be done to answer these types of questions.

Since the city is improving sidewalks, an important piece of infrastructure for walking, they should also consider drawing crosswalks at busy intersections and providing signage to remind drivers to slow down. Roads which have a high traffic volume and unsafe speeding conditions may be ideal locations for speed bumps. In terms of improving green space in the city, both quality and quantity should be considered. Since perceived green space consisted of questions mainly related to condition and access, city planners should consider improving amenities in parks, such as water fountains or bathrooms and keep them in good condition by removing nuisances, such as litter. Furthermore, sustainability goals could be accomplished by installing structures which encourage biodiversity, such as bat boxes or birdfeeders, or by planting native wildflowers and trees which serve a dual purpose of attracting bees and providing aesthetic appeal.

While this study found different results than anticipated, it provides a strong foundation for future studies and demonstrates the value of community involvement as well as the usefulness of GIS in measuring complex neighborhood characteristics both physical and social. In the meantime, this research supports the abundance of literature showing mutual benefit from green space and can help inform more sustainable development patterns within a small city context. Fostering a return of community will be crucial for cities wanting to appeal to the demands of future generations.

I would like to publically thank the Oil City Library and the City of Oil City for supporting my research, as well as my advisors Lydia Eckstein of the Psychology Department and Christopher Shaffer of the Environmental Science Department. Any questions may be emailed to me at <aleshreffler@gmail.com> or call (814) 758-4187. I would be happy to discuss my methods and findings in detail.