From Lots to Lush: Repurposing San Antonio's Underutilized Spaces to Combat Water Scarcity, Food Deserts, and Urban Heat

San Antonio, Texas, faces increasing environmental and social challenges driven by rapid population growth and worsening climate conditions. Most pressing among these challenges are food insecurity, water scarcity, and urban heat, which disproportionately affect the city's low-income and underserved communities. This thesis explores the potential of transforming vacant lots and green spaces into multifunctional sites that address these interconnected issues. By integrating urban agriculture, bioretention basins, and vegetative cooling, these spaces can provide sustainable solutions to enhance food security, bolster the local water supply, and mitigate urban heat island effects. To support this proposal, the study analyzes historical trends in aquifer water levels and infiltration metrics, spatial data on food deserts, and heat vulnerability indices across San Antonio to identify priority intervention areas. Benchmarks for evaluating the impact of these interventions are aligned with the city's Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and water conservation goals, focusing on groundwater recharge, food accessibility improvements, and urban cooling. This study utilizes data from case studies in West Texas, Dallas, and San Antonio to project the results of these proposed interventions. This research demonstrates how targeted land use shifts can focus urban agriculture, urban greening, and water infiltration projects to strengthen San Antonio's climate resilience and social equity in the face of a growing population. The findings underscore the urgency of implementing integrated solutions that repurpose underutilized urban spaces, providing a scalable and comprehensive framework for cities facing similar challenges in our rapidly changing climate.