Mapping Fort Greene
Examining the Environmental Hardships of Single Mothers
The purpose of our research is to shed light on the environmental hardship experienced by a specific demographic in a specific neighborhood—Single Mothers in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY.
In Brooklyn Community District 02, there are 6,259 children who reside in single parent households ( Citizens’ Committee for Children ). Of all households in the Fort Greene neighborhood, 24.2% are helmed by single mothers ( City Data ). It is known that hardship faced by single parents and their children is widespread and compounded by inequalities across neighborhood, gender, and race ( Robin Hood Poverty Tracker ). Between the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene it's estimated that 449 single mothers earn an income below the federal poverty line (Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness).
On top of highlighting these social vulnerabilities, we seek to build a comprehensive picture of what physical, environmental hardships single mothers face. We'll do this by illustrating areas where poor air quality and heat are concentrated in Fort Greene to expose the potential environmental risks for vulnerable families already suffering from hardship. There are public health effects resulting from the co-mingling of air pollution levels and heat vulnerability.
On the north side of Fort Green Park, a central public park in the Fort Greene neighborhood, a set of stairs forces single mothers with strollers to find a different route.
Vulnerability Disparity Between Single Mothers and Single Fathers
The United States’ Census Bureau shows that the Fort Greene Area has an overall score of 0.996, indicating a high level of vulnerability. Single Parents form the majority of the most vulnerable population, closely followed by young adults and the differently-abled. Within the Single Parent demographic, Single Mothers are more at risk than Single Fathers because of multiple factors. According to a study from the University of Illinois, single mothers earn significantly less income than Single Fathers, and they're penalized for each additional child they have even though the income of Single Fathers remains the same or increases with each added child in their family. Men also make more money for every additional year they invest in education, further widening the gender gap ( Gender Issues, 2015 ).
Fort Greene Demographics
Family Households: 5,532 & Non-Family Households: 5,836
Walking survey around the neighborhood to observe sidewalk paths and streetways.
Study Strategies
We’ve divided our research project into three stages: Stage One - Research and Discovery, Stage Two - Mapping, and Stage Three - Conclusion. We’ve concluded Stage One, where we gathered information from open data sources in New York City databases and conducted our own survey of the neighborhood to better understand the physical environment of Fort Greene. We surveyed streets and avenues considered to be main commercial arteries, along with residential streets and public spaces (Fort Greene Park). Data gathered from the survey included the number of vehicles traveling on specified streets within a given timeframe, number of accessible doorways for commercial businesses, number of public restrooms, and gradation and materials of sidewalks. Documentation platforms include spreadsheets, photography, sketches, and written notes.
The map below depicts a critical cartography exercise we undertook by surveying the ins and outs of the neighborhood. The jagged lines depict the routes taken during a walking survey by all three members of the team. The neighborhood was divided by north, south, and mid-bands, along with consideration for where commercial activity and residential buildings are located.
* The research we are conducting also aims to bring visibility to the hardship of hired nannies and baby-sitters, an important economy within NYC that shares the plight of environmental hardship with single mothers.
Air Quality in Fort Greene
According to the New York City Department of Health, levels of the most harmful air pollutant, fine particulate matter PM2.5, is at 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (NYCDOH). The average amount of PM2.5 is 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter in Brooklyn and 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter in all of New York City.
A large contributer might be from major bus and truck routes which cut through the Fort Greene neighborhood at every avenue. Below is a map depicting these truck routes.
Bus and Truck Routes
Airborne Pollutants
PM 2.5
PM 2.5 (fine particles) is the most harmful urban air pollutant to humans. Because it is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, PM 2.5 can worsen lung and heart disease, cause cancer, and lead to hospital admissions and premature deaths.
PM 2.5 is either directly emitted or formed in the atmosphere from other pollutants. Common sources of PM 2.5 are Fuel combustion in vehicles, boilers in buildings, power plants, construction equipment, marine vessels and commercial cooking.
Black Carbon
Black carbon is a byproduct of gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuels. Emitted primarily from local sources, 20% of fine particulate matter in New York City is comprised of black carbon.
Inhaling black carbon is known to lead towards health problems like respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and birth defects. Black carbon has the ability to alter rain and cloud patterns.
Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) is associated with burning certain types of fuel oil that contain a high sulfur content. In NYC, SO 2 is mainly associated with fuel burned to heat water and buildings. Sometimes high-sulfur oil is used to generate electricity along with powering marine vessels. Exposure to SO 2 can cause hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room for asthma and other respiratory conditions. SO 2 also contributes to the formation of PM 2.5 .
Ozone
When Nitrogen Dioxide or Nitric Oxide (NO X ) combines with sunlight and other air pollutants, Ozone (O 3 ) forms -- typically at the ground level because of car traffic. O 3 levels often are highest in the summer and downwind from spaces that have high NO X emissions, like highways with high traffic density.
Nitric Oxide
Increased visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations for respiratory conditions (like asthma) can be results of exposure to "oxides of Nitrogen" (NO X ). NO X can also lead to the creation of PM 2.5 and O 3 when it mixes with other compounds in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Dioxide
Increased visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations for respiratory conditions (like asthma) can be results of exposure to "oxides of Nitrogen" (NO X ). NO X can also lead to the creation of PM 2.5 and O 3 when it mixes with other compounds in the atmosphere.
Environmental Justice Indicators
The following maps reflect the walking survey that we undertook in our data gathering phase. We wanted to indicate accessibility points for single mothers in terms of walkability with a stroller along with access to bathrooms in case the mothers need to have a private space to change diapers or rest.
Stroller Accessibilty
Public Bathrooms
Private Bathrooms
Point Densities from the above Justice maps
Heat Vulnerabilities
Climate Central ranked NYC as the nation's 3rd most intense "Urban Heat Island" - meaning that infrastructure is built to contain heat, spelling increasing dangers for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Communities of color and low-income people are at higher risk of extreme heat-tied health woes. They tend to shoulder disproportionate pollution burdens, live in neighborhoods with fewer trees and less open green space and characteristics of micro heat islands.
Scientists project the health impacts of heat will worsen as the effects of climate change and global warming increase. Five years ago, researchers at Columbia University predicted that as many as 3,331 New York City residents may die each year from heat by 2080.
Heating in context of a large area
Not all boroughs across NYC experience heat uniformly and Brooklyn is no exception. Brooklyn's heat vulnerability has been largely attributed to cooling inaccessibility, the lack of community facilities, sidelining and other justice and equity factors that influence high heat mortality and related illnesses.
Heat Intensities with a focus on FG
Heat intensities shown here are based on temperatures measured across locations. Fort Greene is no exception to soaring temperatures regardless of the FG Park. The presence of unmaintained housing, unkempt streets, lack of maintained community spaces can definitely contribute to increased heat.
Relationship between Permeable and Built Surfaces
Areas east of the FG park have lesser permeable surfaces. The absence of Green Infrastructure plays a large role in mitigating heat across the streets and homes. The majority of green spaces seen here are in backyards.
Buildings and impervious surfaces like pavements, trap heat and the activity stemming from lots of people in a packed area results in more emissions, creating the sweltering city environment.
FG Redlining and Housing in relation to Heat
Relying on electricity powered mainly with fossil fuels creates carbon emissions, which exacerbates the climate change that leads to intensified heat. Weatherizing buildings to increase energy efficiency, installing green infrastructure
There are 12,488 housing units in Fort Greene, and the median year in which these properties were built is 1948.
Problem Areas for Accessibility
Surveying the Fort Greene neighborhood, we took account of the state of sidewalk stock, entrances to businesses for accessibility, and the lack of public bathrooms available to single mothers.
Ledges met with tight doorframes and swinging doors greet mothers with strollers at businesses and eateries.
Broken sidewalks along the residential side of Fort Greene Park. A mother uses a temporary asphalt ramp at the southeast corner of the park.
Problem Area 1
Ashland Place between Dekalb and Myrtle
Problem Area 2
Park Avenue from Clermont and Carlton
Problem Area 3
Dekalb Avenue around Clermont and Adelphi
Synthesizing these Environmental Indicators
We spoke about environmental indicators that might have an effect on single mothers and their children. With these maps we wanted to illustrate a relationship between poor air quality, proximity to truck routes, and asthma hospitalization rates.
The circular graduated symbols signify higher visits to the emergency department because of asthma through their size. The larger ones signify a higher rate of visits to the Emergency Department (Department of Health).
Air Quality Indicators overlaid with Asthma Hospitalization Rates
We spoke about environmental indicators that might have an effect on single mothers and their children. With these maps we wanted to illustrate a relationship between poor air quality, proximity to truck routes, and asthma hospitalization rates. The circular graduated symbols signify higher visits to the emergency department because of asthma through their size. The larger ones signify a higher rate of visits to the Emergency Department (Department of Health).
Comparing Asthma Hospitalization Rates with Heat Vulnerability
