Community Air Monitoring Project

The Spur 5 Community Air Monitoring Project: Environmental Health and Data-Driven Advocacy

Sign up here:  https://forms.gle/PzYjHwScbJp1y4uw9

Friends of Fonde Park (FOFP) is leading the Spur 5 Community Air Monitoring Project to address critical environmental challenges impacting the holistic wellness and safety of our community.

This project is a centerpiece of our commitment to Resource Stewardship—maintaining and protecting the park's natural resources—and Community Preservation—ensuring the park remains a crucial resource for neighborhood residents and Super Neighborhood 69.

Why Community Air Monitoring?

FOFP is dedicated to advocating for environmental justice for our community and local stakeholders. 

Our work directly addresses the impacts of unchecked highway expansion, as our neighborhood has been severely affected by the expansion of Spur 5 and I-45 South, which has dramatically increased noise, traffic, and air pollution.

 This environmental science air monitoring program aims to scientifically assess local air quality, providing data-driven insights necessary to advocate for crucial improvements and future accountability. We are currently involved in advocating for TXDOT to replace trees removed during the Spur 5 expansion project and to implement other changes needed to mitigate air pollution, noise pollution, lack of pedestrian crossing, and increasing flooding of Brays Bayou.

We Cannot do this Alone

Our Collaborative and Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Recognizing that environmental health is linked to community health, this project employs an ambitious multi-disciplinary approach to ensure accurate data collection and effective advocacy.

This robust air monitoring program is looking for collaborative partnerships with several academic and community entities:

• University of Houston Departments: We are looking to collaborate with the departments of Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Law, and Social Work,.

• Community Partners: We work alongside Rice University Students to ensure the project remains rooted in community needs,. We are currently organizing a Spring Break project and are in need of folks to come help us (sign up here:  https://forms.gle/PzYjHwScbJp1y4uw9  ) reach our neighbors who are being affected by redlining.

This  multi organizations and people collaboration allows us to:

1. Scientifically Assess Air Quality: Environmental Sciences supports the collection of air quality data in the Spur 5 area.

2. Analyze Health Impacts: Public Health helps analyze the data for potential health implications for the community.

3. Drive Policy & Advocacy: The Law department assists in researching relevant environmental regulations and policies, helping FFP identify actionable pathways for advocacy based on the collected data.

4. Ensure Community Engagement: The Social Work department, alongside FFP and other orgs members, works to engage residents in understanding air quality issues, gathering community concerns, and disseminating project findings.

The ultimate goal is to empower the community with scientific insights so we can effectively advocate for changes that enhance the safety and holistic wellness of everyone who uses Fonde Park and lives nearby.

Get Involved

Community engagement is critical to the success of this project. If you are interested in deepening your involvement, you can support this effort by:

• Sharing Community Concerns: Working with our Social Work liaisons to gather community input regarding air quality issues.

• Supporting Advocacy Research: Assisting with policy research to identify environmental regulations that apply to our findings.

• Connecting with FOFP: Expressing interest in environmental advocacy when engaging with our organization, as we prioritize listening to the community's needs, issues of interest, and pressures,.