Introduction
Urban sprawl has turned out to be a controversial issue in recent times due to the rate at which green spaces are disappearing in most of the cities, especially in the United States. Frumkin (2002) describes this phenomenon as a multifaceted pattern of transportation, land use, as well as economic and social development. In other words, urban sprawl is the uncontrolled expansion of the metropolitan areas. This phenomenon essentially results in the extinction of green spaces and a variety of environmental consequences. Banai and DePriest (2010) maintain that urban sprawl is considered a cause of the climate change, with environmental effects from the water and air to land. Among the negative effects that are associated with urban sprawl include loss of open space and farmland, poverty, deteriorating water and air quality, crime, increased traffic congestion, and increased infrastructure costs, among others (Hess at al., 2001). As a matter of fact, urban sprawl is harmful and a great threat to ecology and human life. Ewing, Pendall, and Chen (2003) affirms that there exist associations between urban sprawl and a variety of problems, from the scenic areas’ degradation to air pollution.
Brueckner (2000) asserts that there has been strong feeling against urban sprawl in the United States over the previous few years. Atlanta city is one of the sprawliest cities in the United States. According to Yang (2002), there are only a few physical obstacles to urban development in this city. Consequently, this explains why it is one of the leading sprawliest city in the country. The continued development of this city poses a great risk to the environment as well as human health. According to Dobbins (2005), Atlanta must experience environmental threats as well as their health effects. It is disheartening to note that the environmental consequences of urban sprawl in Atlanta city will continue to be felt by generations for many years to come if nothing is done to avert it. Consequently, the research question that the study will attempt to answer is: What measures can the relevant authorities in Atlantic City take to curb the ever increasing urban sprawl and prevent further detrimental effects on the environment and human health. In particular, the study will concentrate on urban sprawl in this city as problematic and investigate the actions, which ought to be taken to combat it.
Bibliography
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Brueckner, J.K., 2000. Urban sprawl: diagnosis and remedies. International regional science review, 23(2), pp.160-171.
Dobbins, M., 2005. Focusing Growth amid Sprawl: Atlanta's Livable Centers Initiative [Speaking of Places]. Places Journal, 17(2).
Ewing, R., Pendall, R. and Chen, D., 2003. Measuring sprawl and its transportation impacts. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (1831), pp.175-183.
Frumkin, H., 2002. Urban sprawl and public health. Public health reports, 117(3), p.201.
Hess, G., Daley, S.S., Dennison, B.K., Lubkin, S.R., McGuinn, R.P., Morin, V.Z., Potter, K.M., Savage, R.E., Shelton, W.G., Snow, C.M. and Wrege, B.M., 2001. Just what is sprawl, anyway? Carolina Planning, 26(2), pp.11-26.
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