The Sustainable Neighborhoods Network: A City-citizen Partnership to Promote More Sustainable Behaviors
2017–2020 · Presented at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Conference, April 2017 · Supported by CU Denver’s Office of Research Services and Center for Faculty Development
Abstract
The Sustainable Neighborhoods Network (SNN), run by the cities of Lakewood and Denver, Colorado, supports residents who want to make their neighborhoods more sustainable. With guidance and resources from city staff, participating neighborhoods organize workshops, projects, and events, from Bike to Work Day to energy and land projects, that enhance livability and reduce residents’ ecological footprint across five goal areas.
This multi-year study evaluated the program’s direct and ancillary effects. It analyzed the program’s project database for ten neighborhoods (five in each city, each with at least two years in the program, 2012–2016), drew on participant observation by student research assistants and interns, and included interviews with city staff and neighborhood participants.
The program proved affordable, practical, and scalable. Residents reported meaningful changes in their own behavior, and participation built civic engagement beyond the program itself, including connections to city council, local businesses, and nonprofits. Challenges include reliance on a few dedicated staff advocates, institutional hesitance to fully fund the program, and participation that reaches only a small share of neighborhoods. The research highlights the neighborhood as an appropriate scale for city–resident partnerships that promote sustainable behavior.
