FYI Press Release: Residential Green Infrastructure Key to New Orleans’ Culture and Climate Resilience

NEW ORLEANS, LA, June 30, 2026 –  The Urban Conservancy released new survey findings today at www.urbanconservancy.org and will host an online briefing Tuesday, July 7 at 8:30 am. Survey results show the enduring impact– in some cases for more than a decade– of properly installed green stormwater infrastructure, including significantly reduced flooding, runoff to catch basins, and impacts of extreme heat and drought.. Results also show consistently high levels of homeowner satisfaction with their installations over time.

“This spring, the Urban Conservancy sent surveys to 140 eligible Front Yard Initiative (FYI) participants who completed residential green infrastructure projects between 2015 and 2025, and 62% responded,” says Emily Snyder, FYI program manager. “Their responses provided us with crucial insights into how we can build community resilience in the face of a changing climate, and create a city that is more beautiful and biodiverse. Respondents told us how their decision to install green infrastructure on their property has expanded their awareness and changed their attitudes with regard to climate readiness.”

“Since 2015, the Urban Conservancy’s Front Yard Initiative has demonstrated what is possible when residents are given both the tools and modest financial encouragement to act,” says Dana Eness, executive director. “Importantly, more than ninety-five percent of respondents say financial incentives were key to their decision to participate in FYI. This year,  we’ve decided to sunset the partial reimbursement portion of our program, not because financial incentives are no longer necessary, but because it is time to think bigger. As we turn our attention to policy responses such as an equitable stormwater fee that would support residential green infrastructure installation citywide, our survey results are unequivocal: homeowner incentives and credits are not optional add-ons. They are proven drivers of participation and support the essential work  that ensures New Orleans is here for many generations to come.”

You can read the 2026 survey report and attend the virtual debrief session Tuesday, July 7, at 8:30 am. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. A recording will be available to registrants after the event.

What: 2026 Front Yard Initiative Homeowners Survey Report briefing on residential green infrastructure effectiveness

When: 8:30  – 9:30 am, Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Where: Online, via Zoom link

Who: Free and open to the public. Advance registration required

About the Urban Conservancy: Since 2001, the Urban Conservancy (UC) has collaborated on and led initiatives to strengthen the urban environment and local economy through equitable practices, policies, and programs. We promote sustainable solutions to New Orleans’ distinct land use needs through community, K-12 and neighborhood-level engagement. 

About the Front Yard Initiative: Since 2015, the Urban Conservancy’s Front Yard Initiative has helped property owners remove paving to reduce flooding, providing financial assistance to 168 homeowners and technical assistance to thousands more. Our participants have removed over 93,000 square feet of paving resulting in nearly 4 million gallons of rainwater diverted from our pumping system annually, creating over $1.1 million in direct economic stimulus to the green sector. Major financial supporters have included the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Entergy Environmental Initiatives Fund, the Wisner Donor fund, the Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation, the Southeastern Sustainable Communities Fund, and many others. In 2026, the Urban Conservancy discontinued providing financial incentives to homeowners but continues to provide technical assistance.