American neighborhoods have declined over the past few decades, contributing to rising isolation, mistrust, and polarization. Weaker social ties are leading to greater depression, anxiety, addiction, suicide, and alienation. Moreover, during the past 50 years, the number of high-poverty neighborhoods has tripled and the population of poor people in these neighborhoods has doubled, even as spending on welfare has soared. And yet, there are few systematic efforts to bolster neighborhoods. The role of institutions is key to reviving a neighborhood. The way these institutions structure—or fail to structure—relationships at the neighborhood and interneighborhood level affects the vitality of each locale and the well-being of everyone living there.

"Poisoned by Zip Code, Mended by Design" featured (from left) Miguel Perez, KERA arts reporter; Ari Brielle, artist; Marsha Jackson, activist and Floral Farms resident; Erin Peavey, architect, HKS and Evelyn Mayo, chair of Downwinders at Risk. Here on stage at the Dallas Museum of Art

The story of the Floral Farms Park is one of reclamation, connection, and healing. It’s not just about the removing an illegal dumping site, where a mountain of shingles grew to be six-stories tall— it’s about reclaiming the identity of a vibrant neighborhood that came to be known as “where Shingle Mountain is”.