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Abstract
In the field of landscape architecture, few studies have investigated the concept of child resilience. In the existing research that has discussed this concept, studied sites were always in war zones or disaster-stricken areas. The concept of child resilience has not been applied to designing in neighborhoods with a low standard of living such as the Tenderloin District, San Francisco. The thesis firstly introduces what child resilience is and how to foster it in children based on psychological research. After that, a literature review and two case studies are conducted, focusing on what applicable design solutions have been developed for recreational spaces in vulnerable communities. The thesis also analyzes the current living condition for the youth in the Tenderloin District and proposes strategic suggestions to help cultivate child resilience. A hypothetical design is developed to show how child resilience strategies can be applied to a site design. The conclusion of this research is that resilience is more likely to be fostered in children when protective factors in ones living environment are increased, and when risk factors are avoided by landscape architectural design.