Low-impact development : citizen chronicles from the urban underground

Abstract

The participants in this study were property owners who volunteered for involvement in a residential low-impact development (LID) initiative located in Toronto, Canada. The LID entailed the installation of rain gardens for the retention of storm water runoff in the front yards of the residents. Using a phenomenological approach based on individual interviews and a focus group, the study documented participants’ experiences of maintaining the rain gardens and their perceived changes in knowledge and attitudes concerning local actions that support sustainability. While much has been published on the implementation of rain gardens in North America, the assessment of people’s receptivity to this form of storm water intervention has largely gone undocumented. In the final analysis, the results of this study indicated homeowners are in favour of more nature at home, making rain gardens more accessible to the public, and replicating them as an adaptation strategy.