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Wisdom Wednesday: How Do Green Spaces Benefit You?
As cities grow, space for nature to exist gets limited. Green space is defined as any urban land covered by vegetation such as parks, playgrounds, and landscaping around buildings.
The Science Behind Green Space: How Does it Benefit Us?
This topic has become increasingly studied, especially as cities become more populated. Results from the studies about green space have been overwhelmingly positive. Not only are there mental health benefits, there are physical and even social benefits of having green space such as crime reduction.
Mental Health Benefits:
1
Fewer Behavioral problems in kids.
Just seeing trees and greenery has mental health benefits. A study was done in Michigan that measured behavioral problems in students from ages 7 to 9. This took place in 15 classrooms across three schools. This study “found that higher levels of visible nature from classroom windows were associated with lower externalizing behavior problem scores” (Pearson). This means that when children are able to see more trees and green space, they exhibit fewer behavioral problems than those with limited views of trees.
2
Reduced Stress.
Green space is also known to reduce stress and anxiety. If overwhelmed by a busy day in life, it’s important to take advantage of what life can offer by immersing yourself in nature’s natural healing properties. Even short periods, 10-20 minutes, have measurable calming effects. Within this window, blood pressure as well as cortisol (stress hormone) levels get reduced.
Physical Benefits:
Faster Recovery from Hospital. In a study with hospital patients, “patients assigned to rooms with windows looking out on a natural scene had shorter postoperative hospital stays” (Ulrich). When compared with patients that had windows facing a brick building wall, the patients facing the natural scenery had fewer negative evaluative comments in the nurses’ notes. This study demonstrates the importance of having green space around us to improve our health.
Social Benefits:
Crime Reduction. A lesser known fact, maintained green spaces actually reduce crime. A study in Chicago showed that vegetated spaces cut crime by half. 98 vegetated and un-vegetated spaces were analyzed and the ones with green space also translated into less litter and graffiti around that area. Vegetated landscapes invite more people to use them, which brings more eyes to the area and prevents crime in outdoor spaces (Kuo).
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This list of benefits is only a short list of all that nature provides. Green space is such a promoted aspect in society, countries worldwide try to implement them inside urban society. For example, Singapore launched the Green Plan 2030 which sets nationwide targets such as greening 80% of buildings, planting 1 million trees, and driving major emissions reductions by 2030. Green spaces are vital, and protecting it is a global effort to support healthier and happier lives.
Here in Korima, we have 30% of green space within our neighborhoods to promote wellbeing. This is more than the required amount that Fruita sets on their developers. We want our homeowners to live healthy and share positive experiences with each other. Life is precious, and the quality of it matters.
Sources: Ulrich R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science (New York, N.Y.), 224(4647), 420–421. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402 (APA format)
Pearson, A. L., Brown, C. D., Reuben, A., Nicholls, N., Pfeiffer, K. A., & Clevenger, K. A. (2023). Elementary Classroom Views of Nature Are Associated with Lower Child Externalizing Behavior Problems. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(9), 5653. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095653
Kuo, F. E., & Sullivan, W. C. (2001). Environment and crime in the inner city: Does vegetation reduce crime? Environment and Behavior, 33(3), 343–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916501333002
