Green Leisure: Resistance and Revitalization of Urban Neighborhoods

Many cities have addressed urban population shrinkage by adopting strategies to re-purpose vacant lots in ways that leave them beautified and groomed. This study investigates leisure behavior resulting in beautified and groomed vacant lots that resist dominant discourses - referred to as green leisu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLeisure sciences Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 743 - 763
Main Authors Jeong, Wonjin, Stewart, William P., Gobster, Paul H., van Riper, Carena J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Philadelphia Routledge 17.11.2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Beautification
Beautification projects
collective efficacy
Community organizations
Efficacy
Gardens & gardening
Leisure
Neighborhoods
Ownership
Property
Research design
Resistance
Socialization
Urban areas
urban greening
urban leisure
Urban planning
Urban population
vacant lots
United States > US
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Summary:Many cities have addressed urban population shrinkage by adopting strategies to re-purpose vacant lots in ways that leave them beautified and groomed. This study investigates leisure behavior resulting in beautified and groomed vacant lots that resist dominant discourses - referred to as green leisure. We applied a mixed-methods research design with property owners who purchased vacant lots through the Chicago Large Lot Program. Our focus group findings (n = 25) indicated that participants framed their activities as resistance tied to (a) vacant lot beautification, (b) providing places to socialize, (c) efficacy, and (d) neighborhood transformation. Using survey data (n = 197), results from a path model show that behavioral investment in greening - as measured by a Cues to Care Action Scale - is influenced by social normative beliefs, collective-efficacy, self-efficacy, and perception of gardening as leisure. Our findings lend support to policies that encourage resident-based private ownership of vacant land to revitalize urban neighborhoods.
ISSN:0149-0400
1521-0588
DOI:10.1080/01490400.2021.1889422