Health Benefits

• Author(s): Geoffrey Godbey Andrew Mowen

• Organization: National Recreation and Park Association http://www.nrpa.org

• Date Published: December 1, 2010

In an era in which health costs have become the biggest single expenditure in U .S society, the central importance of physical activity in preventing and improving a wide variety of health problems is now well understood.

As this has happened, public park and recreation services’ central role in promoting and providing physical activity has been increasingly documented by scientific research. Public park and recreation services are becoming part of the healthcare system of the United States and are now recognized as such. This paper explains the scientific basis for this change.

http://www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/nrpa.org/Publications_and_Research/Research/Papers/Godbey-Mowen-Research-Paper.pdf

• Author(s): William Sullivan, et al.

• Organization: Journal: Environment and Behaviour. http://eab.sagepub.com/

• Date Published: September 3, 2004

What makes a neighbourhood space vial? This article explores the possibility that the presence of trees and grass may be one of the key component of vital neighbourhood paces. This research reports on 758 observations of individuals in 59 outdoor common spaces in a residential development. Twenty-seven of the neighborhood common spaces were relatively green, whereas 32 were relatively barren. Results indicate that the presence of trees an grass is related to the use of outdoor spaces, the amount of social activity that takes place within the,, and the proportion of social t nonsocial activities they support. The findings improve and broaden our understanding of the physical characteristics that influence social contact among neighbors and provide evidence that nature plays an important role in creating vital neighbourhood spaces.

http://www.willsull.net/Publications_files/Sullivan,%20Kuo,%20DePooter.pdf

• Author(s): Kenneth R. Ginsburg

• Organization: American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www2.aap.org/)

• Date Published: January 9, 2007

” This report addresses a variety of factors that have reduced play, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure, and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play. This report offers guidelines on how pediatricians can advocate for children by helping families, school systems and communities consider how best to ensure that play is protected as they seek the balance in children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.”

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/119/1/182.full.pdf

• Author(s): Richard Louv http://richardlouv.com

• Organization: Publisher: Algonquin Books. Chapel Hill, North Carolina http://www.algonquin.com/

• Date Published: January 7, 2011

“Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv shows us how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural world can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. “

http://richardlouv.com/books/nature-principle/

• Author(s): Suchitra Sugar

• Organization: UNICEF

• Date Published: June 22, 2021

Green spaces can significantly benefit children’s physical, mental and social development – from infancy into adulthood. This paper outlines the many benefits of green spaces on children’s health and development, as well as actions to improve access to green spaces. Recommended interventions focus on empowering communities to claim and maintain their local green spaces, securing government support to improve and create green space in cities, and prioritizing schools and child care centres for greening.

The Necessity of Urban Green Space for Children’s Optimal Development

• Author(s): Donovan, Geoffrey H et all

• Organization: Elsevier

• Date Published: February 1, 2013

A natural experiment, which provides stronger evidence of causality, was used to test whether a major change to the natural environment – the loss of 100 million trees to the emerald ash borer, an invasive forest pest – has influenced mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory diseases.

There was an increase in mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness in counties infested with the emerald ash borer. The magnitude of this effect was greater as infestation progressed and in counties with above-average median household income. Across the 15 states in the study area, the borer was associated with an additional 6113 deaths related to illness of the lower respiratory system, and 15,080 cardiovascular-related deaths.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379712008045

• Author(s): Stephen Kaplan

• Organization: Journal of Environmental Psychology (vol. 15, Issue 3, pp. 169-182).http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-environmental-psychology/

• Date Published: December 31, 1995

This paper explores how natural environments are rich in the characteristics important to restorative therapies.

http://willsull.net/resources/KaplanS1995.pdf

• Author(s): Des de Moor

• Organization: Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support: London, UK

• Date Published: May 1, 2015

This report is an extensive overview of the mounting research into the life threatening consequences of inactivity, which concludes that walking is the answer.

One of the simplest, longest-running and most effective interventions to encourage walking is Walking for Health, England’s largest network of health walk schemes. Thoroughly tried and tested since it launched in 2000, Walking for Health is now run by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support. Its 600 schemes across England offer free, short walks led by friendly, trained walk leaders.

Walking for Health overcomes a recognised barrier to becoming more active by providing opportunities for social contact. This is the top motivator for many participants and a mental health benefit in itself. Walking for Health is particularly successful at keeping older people active, and can help stop what is otherwise often a rapid decline in physical activity with age. For councils, health commissioners and other organisations interested in improving public health, supporting a health walks scheme under the Walking for Health umbrella contributes not only to the major health challenge of tackling the physical inactivity epidemic, but also to numerous other local and national policy objectives.

http://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/Walking%20works_LONG_AW_Web.pdf