Cultivating Health: The Role of Urban Greening in Supporting Baltimore’s Youth

Project VITAL (Vacant Lot Improvement to Transform Adolescent Lives) is a study designed to evaluate the impact of revitalized vacant lots on adolescent health in Baltimore, Maryland. We implemented a mixed-methods research approach, which included surveys of 14- to 19-year-olds, observations of nearby vacant lots, and street block assessments during 2023-2024. The aim was to understand how greening vacant lots affected adolescent mental health, experiences of violence, and food insecurity. Linear regression models were used to examine the association between living near a maintained vacant lot and various outcomes. Effect size was measured for each significant association using Cohen's f². Out of the 313 survey participants with geo-coded addresses, 50.2% resided within 0.20 mi of a maintained lot. Proximity to these maintained green spaces was associated with greater happiness (p = 0.01, f² = 0.04) and reduced food insecurity among adolescents, although the latter did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.08, f² = 0.06). No significant link was found between the proximity to green spaces and either depressive symptoms or experiences of weapon-related violence. These findings highlight the complexity of the effects of urban greening, indicating that while it may not address all negative outcomes, it can modestly improve certain positive aspects of adolescent well-being. Public health initiatives focusing on these efforts could help address urban decay and promote long-term health equity.