Chinatown Heat Equity and Resilience in Open Spaces (HEROS) Study

The Chinatown HEROS (Heat Equity and Resilience in Open Space) Study is a community-based participatory research collaboration between community leaders from the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), local artist Ponnappa Prakkamukul, and researchers at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University.

The study evaluates environmental conditions in open spaces across Boston’s Chinatown in order to generate public knowledge, develop community education workshops, and provide recommendations for climate-resilient design strategies for open spaces. Specifically, our team collected data on ambient temperature, air pollution, vegetation, surface conditions, noise, and user characteristics at 12 open space sites in Chinatown between July and August of 2023.

Our study builds on past and current environmental justice and open space efforts in Chinatown and regionally. Community residents and leaders have long advocated for more park access and improvements to existing open spaces in Chinatown. Parks and green spaces provide important opportunities for residents and families to gather, connect, and play, and promote positive mental and physical health and well-being. However, environmental hazards such as extreme heat and air pollution [5] pose significant health risks and jeopardize the health benefits of being outdoors, especially for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant persons, older adults, and those who have health complications .

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Key Findings and Highlights

Explore Environmental Sites in Our Study

Addressing Environmental Justice in Chinatown

Boston’s Chinatown faces significant environmental injustices. Compared to other neighborhoods in Boston and statewide, Chinatown has the hottest temperatures, high air pollution levels, and high flooding risks [12]. 

These injustices are driven by racist urban planning policies and practices, such as:

  • Construction of major highways (Interstates 93 and 90) cutting through Chinatown

  • Placement of transportation terminals (train, bus, airline) and industrial activities in close proximity

  • Lack of green spaces and parks

  • High density of dark and impervious surfaces (i.e., asphalt, concrete)

In addition, as climate change progresses, Chinatown will experience even hotter temperatures, higher air pollution, and increased risk of flooding and other extreme events

Engaging Community Members

Chinatown residents have long advocated for well-designed, climate-resilient, accessible, and inclusive open spaces that promote active use for children and residents of all ages. 

In 2019, the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and several community-based organizations launched the Open Space Strategy for Chinatown. This initiative engaged ~250 community members and artists in a series of community visioning workshops and interviews with 9 local businesses. 

Participants reported dissatisfaction with the “quality of open space in Chinatown'' and “wish to see more open spaces that promote active use” such as parks, playgrounds, community gardens, recreational space, and outdoor fitness [16].

Workshops

[to include: A-VOYCE Youth Workshop - 2/29

RLA Workshop - 6/5

ACDC Chinatown Backyard - 7/20

Berkeley Garden Workshop - 9/9]

further resources