Urban green space

In land-use planning, urban green spaces are open-space areas reserved for parks and other spaces of greenery. These include plant life, water features – also known as blue spaces – and other kinds of natural environments. Most urban open spaces are green spaces, though some may consist of other types of open areas. The landscape of open spaces in urban areas can range from playing fields and other highly maintained environments to more natural landscapes that appear less managed. Urban green spaces may also include areas that are not publicly accessible, such as privately owned higher education campuses, school sports fields, allotments, neighborhood or community parks and gardens, and corporate campuses. Areas outside city boundaries, such as state and national parks or rural open spaces, are not generally considered urban open spaces. Boulevards, piazzas, plazas, and urban squares are not consistently classified as urban open spaces in land-use planning. Urban greening policies help revitalize communities, reduce financial burdens on healthcare, and improve quality of life. By promoting the development of parks, green roofs, and community gardens, these policies contribute to cleaner air, mitigate urban heat effects, and create spaces for recreation and social interaction. Most policies focus on community benefits and reducing negative effects of urban development, such as surface runoff and the urban heat island effect. Historically, access to urban green space has favored wealthier and more privileged communities. Recent urban greening has increasingly focused on environmental justice concerns and community engagement in the greening process. In particular, in cities with economic decline, such as in the Rust Belt in the United States, urban greening has broad community revitalization impacts. Urban green spaces have been shown to have a wide-reaching positive impact on the health of individuals and communities near said green space.

Definitions and concepts

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined urban green spaces as "all urban land covered by vegetation of any kind". In academic literature, "urban open space" or "open space" is often used to describe a broader range of open areas. One extensive definition describes open space as follows: "Thus open space, very simply, is unclosed space. As the counterpart to development, urban open space is a natural and cultural resource, synonymous with neither "unused land" nor "park and recreation areas." 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 functions in addition to providing recreational opportunities.In almost all instances, the terms urban green space or urban open and green space refer to open areas that reflect natural areas surrounding the city. Public spaces are broadly construed, including meeting or gathering places that exist outside the home and workplace. These foster resident interaction and opportunities for contact and proximity. This definition implies a higher level of community interaction and places a focus on public involvement rather than public ownership or stewardship.

Benefits The benefits that urban open spaces provide to citizens can be categorized into four basic forms: recreation, ecology, aesthetic value, and positive health impacts. Psychological research shows that benefits to visitors of urban green spaces increased with their biodiversity, indicating that "green" alone is not sufficient: the quality and variety of the urban green space are important as well.

Recreational

Urban open space is often held in esteem for the recreational opportunities it provides. Examples of recreation in urban open spaces include active recreation (such as organized sports and individual exercise) and passive recreation. Research shows that when open spaces are attractive and accessible, people are more likely to engage in physical activity. Time spent in an urban open space for recreation offers a reprieve from the urban environment and a break from over-stimulation. Studies on physically active adults, middle-aged and older, show that there are amplified benefits when physical activities are coupled with green space environments. Such coupling leads to decreased levels of stress, lowers the risk of depression, and increases the frequency of participation in exercise.

Ecological

Green spaces may improve the air quality of urban areas and provide habitat for wildlife, improving the overall ecological health of urban environments. They may also reduce the risk of flooding by providing rainwater drainage.

Aesthetic Urban spaces also hold a certain aesthetic value. People enjoy viewing nature, especially when it is otherwise scarce, as is the case in urban environments. Therefore, open space offers the value of "substituting gray infrastructure." One researcher notes how attractive neighborhoods contribute to positive attitudes and social norms that encourage walking and community values. Properties near urban open spaces tend to have a higher value. One study was able to demonstrate that "a pleasant view can lead to a considerable increase in house price, particularly if the house overlooks water (8–10%) or open space (6–12%)." Certain benefits may be derived from exposure to virtual versions of the natural environment, too. For example, people who were shown pictures of scenic, natural environments had increased brain activity in the region associated with recalling happy memories, compared to people that were shown pictures of urban landscapes.

Impact on health

The World Health Organization considers urban green spaces as important to human mental and physical health. Urban open spaces often include trees or other shrubbery that contribute to moderating temperatures and decreasing air pollution. Perceived general health is higher in populations with a higher percentage of green space in their environments. Urban open space access has also been directly related to reductions in the prevalence and severity of chronic diseases resulting from sedentary lifestyles, improvements in mental well-being, reduction in gun violence, and reductions in population-wide health impacts from climate change.

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