DotWell supports a healthier Dorchester through environmental health
data sharing and mobilizing community support for improving local air
quality.
By bringing attention to disparities in environmental conditions in
Dorchester compared to other Boston neighborhoods, and advocating for
improvements, DotWell ensures cleaner air to breathe, better access and
an increased number of parks and other greenspace, and the related
benefits of better health, lower crime rate and higher social capital.
Beginning in March 2002, DotWell help found and has supported the Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition,
a neighborhood-wide network whose members include neighborhood civic
groups, public health agencies, and environmental organizations.
Improved Local Air Quality
One of DotWell's Clean Air objectives is to decrease traffic congestion on Dorchester roadways, thereby increasing pedestrian safety and walkability. DotWell supports increased use of public transit, through transit improvements in Dorchester, such as the four Red Line stations and Fairmount Line rehab projects.
DotWell encourages well thought out transit-oriented development projects that increase density around transit centers.
DotWell also believes an informed citizenry can better advocate for infrastructure improvements.
Reducing traffic congestion helps reduce air pollution from idling cars and trucks AND reduces speeding in neighborhoods via cut-thru trying to avoid traffic on main roads.
Another Clean Air objective is to increase the number of people walking on Dorchester's sidewalks. DotWell is initiating an educational campaign targeted at residents to encourage walking and biking as part of a regular routine, and to use bicycles instead of private vehicles. By installing secure, covered bike racks at all health center properties, DotWell can encourage health center staff and clients to walk/bike. Improved personal health through increased activity and weight loss is an added benefit.
DotWell partnered with Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition and the Boston Public Health Commission in presenting a conference: "Greater Boston Ambient Air Quality: Lessons and Practices" at UMass Boston in March 2006.
Additional Parks and Open Spaces
DotWell believes that increasing the amount of greenspace/openspace (trees, parks, gardens) in Dorchester to bring this area to the same ratio as in other Boston neighborhoods will result in:
- Vacant lots, now illegal dumping sites, can be turned into community gardens or parks to provide locally-grown, cheap nutritious food, to encourage healthy outdoor activity, and to provide outdoor spaces for safe play.
- Residents who value local greenspace will demand equitable maintenance for their spaces. Well maintained parks with healthy trees equals a higher percentage of urban green cover, which research has shown lowers crime and increases social capital.
- A healthy urban forest also has direct benefits - trees purify the air, by reduce air pollution and create oxygen. Trees cool houses in summer and protect from wind in winter, reducing cooling/heating costs and to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff.
Additionally, educating Dorchester residents about the negative consquences of paving their yards to provide parking (impermeable surfaces increases flooding) will work to decrease the amount of storm runoff in Dorchester.
DotWell is partnering with Boston Urban Forest Coalition to inventory Dorchester's publicly owned street trees.
