The Flow Project & Environmental justice: The City of Bridgeport is an environmental justice community. Residents of Bridgeport are no stranger to flooding from minor and intense rain events, warmer temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, and the many additional cumulative and disproportionate environmental burdens that re magnified by the climate crisis.
This project seeks to advance environmental justice in Bridgeport through bridging together interdisciplinary perspectives, knowledge, and relationships. The organizational partnership working on The Flow Project seeks to ensure that residents have a significant role in identifying and developing projects to mitigate some of the disproportionate environmental burdens experienced in their neighborhoods, while working with crew leaders from the community will provide valuable hands-on, paid, experience.
Furthermore, these projects improve outdoor equity and quality of life as they reduce the severity of flooding and keep the Long Island Sound open and safe for recreational activities. For residents of the surrounding community, this unique participatory planning process related to stormwater management will both reflect community needs and leverage projects to improve the health and well-being of residents.