Urban Environmental Program in New England

City Program Overview: Boston, Massachusetts

Demographic Profile

Boston is a tightly packed, walkable city divided into

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sixteen neighborhoods. Of those, UEP focuses on the most economically depressed neighborhoods with the highest population living below the poverty line - Roxbury; North and South Dorchester; Mattapan; East Boston; South Boston and Chinatown. In 2000, Boston's multi-racial population totaled 589,141, a 2% increase in population over 1990. 49.5% of Boston is White (non-Hispanic), 23.8% African-American, 14.4% Latino, 7.5% Asian, and 0.3% Native American. 3.1% of Boston's residents identify themselves as being of two or more races.

What does UEP do in Boston?
Boston's Urban Environmental Program Approach

The Urban Environmental Program (UEP) target cities are Boston, Hartford and Providence. In addition, Chelsea has recently been added as a target city in conjunction with Boston. Though the goals and program performance measures are consistent, each city represents a different approach to developing urban environmental sustainability. The three city programs differ due to their program history, community-city government relationships, and local land-use patterns.

The Urban Environmental Program originated in Boston. Beginning in 1994, EPA strengthened its commitment to promoting environmental justice through its initial support in Boston of the environmental work of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Program. The early "Green Spaces/Healthy Places" program marked a fundamental change in the Region's environmental justice approach from a more passive to an active hands-on approach.

The Boston model focuses on supporting community partnerships as an engine that can provide resources and support to other neighborhoods. Since its inception, the program has expanded to include numerous other neighborhoods within the Boston area.

In Boston, UEP targets several key community organizations in order to reach a diverse set of groups. In order to achieve sustainable environmental infrastructure the Urban Environmental Program encourages collaboration between city, state and federal agencies, community organizations, non-profit organizations, and local residents. Through its outreach activities, the Urban Environmental Program enables communities to play a key role in their future.

Boston's 1990 population data indicated 52% female, 48% male. Children under 10 and people over 65 comprise 22.4% of the population. 18.7% of Boston residents including 50.8% of Roxbury residents are living at or below the poverty level. Chelsea, one of UEP's partner communities, is a multi-racial 2.2 square mile community of 35,080 people. Out of this total, 38.3% of Chelsea's population is white and 48.4% is Hispanic.

Boston, MA • City Program Overview • Priorities • Partners • Grants and Projects • Progress • City Program Manager