City of Hampton: Neighborhood-Level Resilience
Aberdeen Gardens Multi-Year Project
Coastal Community Design Collaborative (Hampton University and Old Dominion University) and Virginia Tech students meet with residents during a September site visit to Aberdeen Gardens
Supported by generous funding from The Blocker Foundation and Virginia Sea Grant, the project emphasizes nature-based flood protection strategies, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and tree planting. Together, these partnerships aim to build long-term community resilience while respecting Aberdeen Gardens' rich history and environmental assets.
Wetlands Watch’s multi-year project in the Aberdeen Gardens neighborhood of Hampton, VA, resulted in the creation of its first Neighborhood Resilience Action Plan (RAP). This community-driven plan honors the neighborhood's historical significance and environmental assets while focusing on flood mitigation strategies. The RAP serves as a roadmap for securing funding and implementing nature-based flood protection solutions, such as rain gardens and creek restoration. Students from the CCDC and Virginia Tech created the designs featured in the RAP.
In collaboration with the City of Hampton, Hazen & Sawyer, and our academic partners, Wetlands Watch continues to advance climate adaptation efforts in the Aberdeen Gardens community, focusing on the implementation of the Neighborhood Resilience Action Plan (RAP).
Study Area
Aberdeen Creek Drone Flyover
Aberdeen Gardens 2D Map
City GIS Data, including the stormwater system, parcels, water bodies, and flood zones, may be found here.
Aberdeen Gardens Project Reports
Aberdeen Gardens Resilience Action Plan
Coastal Community Design Collaborative: Design Portfolio
Aberdeen Gardens: Virginia Tech Landscape Architecture Studio Final Presentations
Dr. Kim’s 2022 Studio explored design interventions in the Aberdeen community based on feedback from the Greater Aberdeen Community Coalition. Students considered the history and context of the neighborhood, and proposed amenities including community gardens, enhanced recreational and mixed-use public space, and green infrastructure. View their final presentations below.
Coastal Community Design Collaborative (Hampton University and Old Dominion University) Final Presentation
Coastal Community Design Collaborative (Hampton University and Old Dominion University) Final Reports
Individual Student Projects
Click on the individual student projects below to see their projects in greater detail.
Neighborhood-Level Resilience in the City of Hampton (2017)
As part of Virginia Tech's Geography department course, Climate Change and Societal Impacts, graduate students collaborated with the City of Hampton to address the challenges of sea level rise and recurrent flooding. The students examined three neighborhoods, assessing their unique vulnerabilities and recommending interventions to enhance community resilience.
“Neighborhood Level Resilience in the City of Hampton, Virginia” (2017)
Working closely with local residents and the City's Planning Department, the students presented their findings at the semester's conclusion. One student continued this research through an independent study, with plans to publish in the journal Climatic Change. View their presentation below.