green urban design

Mallory moore

is a second year at the University of Chicago, majoring in History and minoring in English/Creative Writing. On campus, Mallory is a board member of Lean On Me and an Events Ambassador at the Institute of Politics, in addition to writing for SISR. In her free time, Mallory enjoys reading, taking long walks along the lake, and going out for brunch (objectively the best meal of the day).

Maybe you take walks in the park and instantly feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Maybe you moved to Chicago and were surprised by how much the city’s density and interminably grey skies impacted your emotions. Whether you realize it or not, you have experienced firsthand the impact of built and natural environments on your psyche. Urban design and, more specifically, access to urban green spaces matter. Urban green spaces shape community interactions at large, but they also affect how individuals experience emotions while moving around an urban landscape.

In 2017, a team of researchers at the University of Malaya in Malaysia collaborated to clearly define the terminology of urban green spaces, previously a gap in urban scholarship. They defined urban open green space as “an urban area with a semi-natural ecosystem”. 6 More simply, “urban green spaces are all types of public or private open spaces in urban areas which are completely or mostly covered with vegetation”. 6 While composed of natural phenomena, UGSs are intentionally cultivated by humans to

offer an intersection between city and nature. They are aesthetic, accessible to the general public, and designed for recreational purposes. Credit: moss-design.com

“Urban green space,” as it exists today, is a diverse and encompassing term. The term includes everything from a neighborhood park bench and a community garden to “sewage lagoons that provide rest stops for migrating waterfowl”. 6 And its expansive meaning has influenced disciplines such as public policy, urban planning and psychology to pay particular attention to USGs, particularly because there is a robust and growing body of research proclaiming their health benefits.

The physical health benefits of having access to nature are well documented. Childhood access to green spaces is associated with improved immune system functionality because children

are exposed to potential allergens and bacteria early in life, so they better develop tolerances. 2 In fact, “living in residential areas with more street trees was shown to be associated with lower asthma prevalence,” 2 this demonstrates how UGSs help prevent chronic health conditions. In addition to preventative benefits, UGSs can improve physical health by

Childhood access to green spaces is associated with improved immune system functionality because children are exposed to potential allergens and bacteria early in life, so they better develop tolerances. 2

encouraging and facilitating healthy lifestyles. Having access to parks, for example, provides motivation for people to exercise more because parks offer a peaceful, safe, and less crowded environment than say, a noisy gym. In addition to the increased physical activity prompted by UGSs, there is mounting evidence that exercise in natural spaces is actually better for people than comparable physical activity in a built environment.

Green spaces reduce depression, anxiety, and stress.

One study found, “walking in a park had a stronger effect on reducing diastolic blood pressure than similar amount of walking along a busy urban street, suggesting a potential biological mechanism of long-term clinical benefits.” 2 While scientists are uncertain of the exact mechanisms at play, it is clear that the natural world affects the chemistry of our bodies in real, measurable ways that are distinct from built environments. stronger short-term cognitive benefits than walking in the residential urban environment.” 2

One reason for this is that green spaces have been shown to reduce cortisol levels. The body releases cortisol, a hormone, when a stimulus triggers the fight or flight stress response. Thus, a lasting reduction in cortisol is a good measure of a reduction in chronic stress. Green spaces reduce depression, anxiety, and stress. These effects have been observed in numerous countries, and studies suggest that the benefits of green space are “independent of cultural and climatic contexts.” 2 The successful replication of these findings across different places implies that the observed mental health benefits cannot be explained by culture or different natural environments and strengthens the causal relationship between access to green space in general and positive mental health.

However, most studies maintain only “short-term restorative benefits of one-off nature experiences,” 2 highlighting the need for repeated exposure to nature in order for humans

It is important to consider the impact of urban green spaces on the mind, as well. According to a European study, “walking in natural environments produces

This detail is particularly important given the inequity in access to residential urban green space in the United States. A study of 10 urbanized areas in the U.S., including Chicago, found a “strong association between income and higher education and urban vegetation,” 4 thus confirming that “environmental amenities are inequitably low in communities with lower social and economic power.” 5 Already disadvantaged groups, who often experience chronic stress and other health issues as a result, 1 are thus deprived of the natural resources which can help mitigate these problems. In fact, inequitable access to green space may play a role in creating health disparities among the wealthy and poor in the first place. 2 Hence, these studies further underscore the crucial role of USGs.

Increased access to urban green space benefits not only an individual’s mental health but also the well-being of communities by increasing social connectivity among members. By providing a shared space to interact, “public urban green space has been shown to facilitate social networking and promote social inclusion in children and adolescents.” 2 Public green spaces encourage a sense of community and cohesion, which in turn might ultimately help to reduce crime rates and loneliness.

To effectively foster a true sense of community, the type of green space to which one has access matters. A recent study of Chicago found, “park spaces show a more positive impact on health and well-being than the overall

Increased access to urban green space benefits not only an individual’s mental health but also the well-being of communities by increasing social connectivity among members.

neighborhood vegetation level.” 3 By taking this factor into account, urban planners can make more effective use of existing green spaces.

Nevertheless, even small changes can have an impact. After controlling for socio-economic and other demographic factors, a study by the University of Chicago’s Environmental Neuroscience Lab found that “having 10 more trees in a city block, on average, improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000.” 4 This finding suggests that the simple act of planting trees could reduce health inequities. While the measure of “health perception” has limitations because it does not give us biological markers of improved health, it nonetheless demonstrates that those with access to green space had a more positive outlook on their personal health, which is significant.

Ultimately, green spaces of any type offer unique health benefits, which cannot be provided solely by built urban spaces. As a result, urban green spaces have a real and tangible effect on both individuals and communities. They can and should be mobilized by urban designers as a tool for improving social cohesion and happiness, and combating inequity.

1 Algren, Holst Maria; Ekholm, Ola; Nielsen, Line; Ersboll Kjaer, Annette; Bak Kronborg, Carsten; Andersen Tanggaard, Pernille. (2018). Associations between perceived stress, socioeconomic status, and health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health.

2 Braubach, Matthias; Egorov, Andrey; Mudu, Pierpaolo; Wolf, Tanja; Ward Thompson, Catharine; Martuzzi, Marco. (2017). Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience. Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas, (pages 187-205).

3 Fan, Yingling; Das, Kirti; Chen, Qian. (2011). Neighborhood green, social support, physical activity, and stress: Assessing the cumulative impact. Health and Place, (pages 1202-1211).

4 Kardan, Omid; Gozdyra, Peter; Misic, Bratislav; Moola, Faisal; Palmer, Lyle; Paus, Tomáš; Berman, Marc. (2015). Neighborhood greenspace and health in a large urban center. Scientific Reports.

5 Nesbitta, Lorien; Meitnera, Michael; Girling, Cynthia; R.J., Sheppard, Stephen; Lua, Yuhao. (2019). Who has access to urban vegetation? A spatial analysis of distributional green equity in 10 US cities. Landscape and Urban Planning, (pages 51-79).

6 Rakhshandehroo, Medhi; Mohd Yusof Mohd, Johari; & Sahrakar, Afshin. (2017). Terminology of Urban Open and Green Spaces. 11th ASEAN Postgraduate Seminar.