courtesy  :  wikipedia

green space

People living in cities and towns generally have weaker mental health in comparison to people living in less crowded areas. Urban green spaces are pieces of nature in the cities designed to try to solve the problem.^[7]

Most research on the topic focus on urban green spaces. The WHO defined this as “all urban land covered by vegation of any kind”.^[3]

When doing research, some experts use “urban open space” to describe a broader range of open areas. One definition holds that, “As the counterpart of development, urban open space is a natural and cultural resource, synonymous with neither ‘unused land’ nor ‘park and recreation areas.” Another is “Open space is land and/or water area with its surface open to the sky, consciously acquired or publicly regulated to serve conservation and urban shaping function in addition to providing recreational opportunities.”^[8] In almost all instances, the space referred to by the term is, in fact, green space, focused on natural areas.^[9]

These spaces are part of “public space” broadly construed, which include meeting or gathering places that exist outside the home and workplace that are generally accessible by members of the public, and which foster resident interaction and opportunities for contact and proximity.^[10] This definition implies a higher level of community interaction and places a focus on public involvement rather than public ownership or stewardship.

Washington Park in Troy, NY, U.S., an example of privately owned urban open space

Benefits[edit]

The benefits that urban open space provides to citizens can be broken into four basic forms; recreation, ecology, aesthetic value, and positive health impacts. Psychological benefits gained by visitors to urban green spaces increased with their biodiversity,^[11] indicating that ‘green’ alone is not sufficient; the quality of that green is important as well.

Recreational[edit]

Sad Janka Kráľa park in Bratislava (Slovakia)

Urban open space is often appreciated for the recreational opportunities it provides. Recreation in urban open space may include active recreation (such as organized sports and individual exercise) or passive recreation, which may simply entail being in the open space. Research shows that when open spaces are attractive and accessible, people are more likely to engage in physical activity.^[12] Time spent in an urban open space for recreation offers a reprieve from the urban environment and a break from over-stimulation.^[13] Studies done on physically active adults middle aged and older show there are amplified benefits when the physical activities are coupled with green space environments. Such coupling leads to decreased levels of stress, lowers the risk for depression as well as increase the frequency of participation in exercise.^[14] Casual group walks in a green environment (nature walks) increase one’s positive attitude and lower stress levels as well as risk of depression.^[15]