Along with rising temperatures, the number of days over 90
degrees is rising in Philadelphia. Historically, Philadelphia averaged 21 days
at 90 degrees or higher yearly; however, July 2020 recorded 21 days in the
nineties. Projections show Philadelphia will double the number of 90-degree
days by 2030. Increasing heat unequally impacts low-income communities and communities
of color. The Hunting Park neighborhood of mostly Hispanic and Black residents
records surface temperatures more than 22 degrees hotter than greener areas in
the city. Drexel University, the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, and the
non-profit Esperanza, funded by the William Penn Foundation, collaborated to
install cooling structures of umbrellas and planter boxes in the neighborhood
to combat heat. This study initiates the quantitative analysis needed to
examine the effectiveness of the cooling structures. Comparisons of
temperatures between blocks will be used to analyze the capability of the cooling
structures to reduce the overall heat. With the help of Civic Scientists, the
localization of urban heat islands will be determined to help assess areas
within Hunting Park at risk of increased heat so that future cooling structures
can be implemented there.
