Research indicates that around seventy-five percent of people will live in cities by 2050. As our global population approaches upwards of 10 billion, urban planners, municipal managers, ecologists, health professionals and ordinary citizens are becoming increasingly alarmed by a growing list of urban environmental problems. These problems include rising pollution, decreasing biodiversity, deteriorating mental and physical health, decreasing food and water supplies and declining greenspaces.
Many cities are now actively working to protect their greenspaces. Greenspaces such as parks, nature reserves, and community gardens provide a range of benefits upon both users and non-users. These benefits include: food, flood control, cooling of urban temperatures, pollution control, suppression of dust and noise, shelter for wildlife, promotion of active lifestyles and less stress and anxiety.
Case Assignment
Walmesley, A. (2013, April 22). Green spaces mean happier days for people living in big towns and cities. The Western Morning News, p. 3. Accessed at http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/green-space-makes-happy-say-exeter-university/story-18769226-detail/story.html , 2016.
Review the articles in your background information regarding mental health and green space.
1. What measurements were used to assess mental health in the articles you read? How were these measurements related to green space?
2. Analyze the amount of green space in your area using the following Park Land website. Go to the following website (http://parkscore.tpl.org/rankings.php) that ranks 100 major US cities on their current ability to meet the need for parks. Find the major city listed that is closest to where you live.
How does this city rank? What does the ranking mean?
Look at the in-depth city profiles on the left-hand side of the screen (in red).
What percentage of your city is considered Park Land?
Look at the historic data (also found on the left of the website) for your city over the last 3 to 4 years- has it increased or decreased its percentage of park lands? Compare this to the national median data percentages located at the bottom of the historical data chart.
How does your city compare? List this data in your report.
1. Make some predictions about the effects of the availability of green space on mental health in your chosen city. Do you think your chosen city could improve its current amount of greenspaces. In what ways?