Neighborhood Parks Research Articles

Association of Park Renovation With Park Use in New York City

Equity-driven citywide park redesign and renovation, such as the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), has the potential to increase park use and opportunities for physical activity in underserved communities. To evaluate changes in patterns of park use following park redesign and renovation in low-income New York City (NYC) neighborhoods. The Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces study was a prospective quality improvement preintervention-postintervention study design with matched control parks. Thirty-three intervention and 21 control neighborhood parks were selected based on specific criteria related to poverty rates, population growth, and population density in park neighborhoods and not having received more than $250 000 in investment in the past 2 decades. Data were collected at baseline (prerenovation) and 2 follow-up points (3 months and 1 year post renovation) between June 5 and December 4 from 2016 to 2022. Participants were individuals observed as users of study parks. The CPI, which involved the redesign and renovation of neighborhood parks by the municipal government of New York City. Main outcomes encompassed park use and physical activity levels assessed using the well-validated System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. Park use was quantified by total number of park users, categorized by age group (≤20 years vs ≥21 years), sex, and physical activity level (sitting or standing vs walking or vigorous activity). Changes in outcomes between groups were compared via the generalized estimation equation. A total of 28 322 park users were observed across 1458 scans. At baseline, 6343 of 10 633 users (59.7%) were 20 years or younger, 4927 of 10 632 (46.3%) were female and 5705 (53.7%) were male, and 4641 of 10 605 (43.8%) were sitting or standing. Intervention parks showed more net park users compared with control parks from baseline to the final follow-up (difference-in-difference relative rate ratio, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.22-2.35] users/scan; P = .002). The association was driven by a significant increase in adult users at intervention parks and overall decrease in all users at control parks. Park users engaging in sitting or standing at intervention parks increased (difference, 4.68 [95% CI, 1.71-7.62] users/scan; P = .002) and park users engaging in walking or vigorous physical activity at control parks decreased (difference, -7.30 [95% CI, -10.80 to -4.26] users/scan; P < .001) over time. In this quality improvement study, park redesign and renovation were positively associated with park use in low-income neighborhoods. However, park renovations may need to be accompanied by other programmatic strategies to increase physical activity.

Konsep Desain Taman Lingkungan Berbasis Partisipasi Masyarakat di Kelurahan Tanah Baru Kecamatan Bogor Utara

Residential in RT 06/RW03 Kelurahan Tanah Baru has a green open space with an area of +1,012 m2. The current condition of the green open space is not well organized and has no design so the site becomes shrubs and some corners of the green open space become. garbage dump. The problem is that there is no clear concept in the arrangement of green open spaces, which can be used as a guide by RT06/RW03 officials and residents in developing green open spaces in the future. The aims of this study were: 1) to identify the needs and desires of residents in designing neighborhood parks; 2) to analyze the site of the neighborhood park 3) to develop neighborhood park design concepts. Analysis using descriptive statistics, site analysis, and the design concept using Permaculture. The community's desire for the function of green open space is as a productive garden, sport, recreation, gathering, and education. The spatial concept consists of welcoming areas, production zones, reuse and service zones, and Social zones. The concept of circulation on the site uses two circulation patterns, namely radial and linear patterns which have achieved effectiveness. The main concept of vegetation management is the production function which includes annual crops, pulses, medicinal plants, and flowering plants that function as edible flowers. The results of the neighborhood park design, make the park sustainable and multifunctional, as: ecological function, Social function, economical functional, and aesthetical function.&#x0D;

Association Between Park Use and Moderate-to-Vigorous Activity During COVID-19 Years among a Cohort of Low-Income Youth.

Neighborhood parks are important venues to support moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) activity. There has been a noticeable increase promoting physical activity among youth in neighborhood parks. This paper aims to assess the association between park use and MVPA among low-income youth in a large urban area. We recruited a cohort of 434 youth participants during the COVID pandemic years (2020-2022) from low-income households in Washington, D.C. We collected multiple data components: accelerometry, survey, and electronic health record data. We explored the bivariate relationship between the accelerometer-measured daily MVPA time outcome and survey-based park use measures. A mixed-effect model was fitted to adjust the effect estimate for participant-level and time-varying confounders. The overall average daily MVPA time is 16.0min (SD = 12.7). The unadjusted bivariate relation between daily MVPA time and frequency of park visit is 1.3min of daily MVPA time per one day with park visits (p < 0.0001). The model-adjusted estimate is 0.7 daily MVPA minutes for 1day with park visit (p = 0.04). The duration of a typical park visit is not a significant predictor to daily MVPA time with or without adjustments. The initial COVID outbreak in 2020 resulted in a significant decline in daily MVPA time (- 4.7min for 2020 versus 2022, p < 0.0001). Park visit frequency is a significant predictor to low-income youth's daily MVPA time with considerable absolute effect sizes compared with other barriers and facilitators. Promoting more frequent park use may be a useful means to improve low-income youth's MVPA outcome.

A study on analysing sociospatial distribution and equity in access to urban parks in Bengaluru, India

BackgroundGiven the effect of urbanisation on land use, allocation, and implementation of urban green spaces, we attempt to analyse the sociospatial distribution and equity in access to urban parks in Bengaluru, India, also known as the garden city of India. MethodsGeospatial method was used for mapping the park's distribution and measuring the accessibility using road network data. To understand equitable access to the parks, four socioeconomic parameters from 2011 census (ie, population density, children aged 6 years or younger, proxy wealth index, and the Scheduled Caste population) were correlated with the parks' accessibility. FindingsThe spatial distribution revealed that 19 of 198 wards did not have a single park and 36 wards only had one park. About 25–29% of wards did not have accessibility to neighbourhood-level and community-level parks within a 400–800 m distance. These parks must be accessible within walking distance of 400–800 m but were found to most likely be inaccessible in the periphery where population density was low and children population was high in comparison to the central part of the city. Similarly, parks found inaccessible in the eastern part of the city where the scheduled caste population is high, and also found inaccessible to the low-income neighbourhoods residing in the western part and southern periphery of the city, indicating the uneven distribution and inequitable access to public parks. InterpretationOur study proposes reshaping of both neighbourhood parks and community parks, an attempt to look beyond biodiversity. The affirmative actions in terms of availability of public parks with adequate area requirement and essential services at a neighbourhood scale is required to redress the inequity of access. In addition, accessibility to parks must be considered important in urban planning. FundingNone.

A Problem with Distance Variables and Alternatives for Their Use

Researchers commonly use distance variables to: (i) estimate the direct influence of a landmark on an outcome of interest, such as a neighborhood park on home price; or (ii) control for omitted spatial influences that affect predictions of key policy variables. While both uses continue, the use of distance as a control, such as distance to Central Business District (CBD), is now more common. Using distance to a given position such as CBD is added to multivariate analysis as a method to capture all remaining, or omitted spatial effects that influence the dependent variable. We show that there is a latent and inherent identification problem with the distance variable; and we show that this extends to the use of distance as a control. These biases affect more than the distance variable. They generate inconsistent estimates for all other spatially distributed variables in a model. We then introduce an alternative control that captures unmodeled influences that vary across space, and we show that this fully stabilizes all model parameter estimates and measures of model efficiency.

Investigating the interplay between senior-friendly park features, perceived greenness, restorativeness, and well-being in older adults

This study investigated the relationships among senior-friendly park features, perceived greenness, perceived restorativeness, and psychological well-being among older adults in Taichung City. A total of 853 participants aged 55 and above comprised the sample, and data were collected from selected neighborhood parks through on-site questionnaires that emphasized evaluating environmental quality based on established guidelines for senior-friendly parks. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships among the variables. The findings revealed significant positive influences of senior-friendly features on perceived greenness and perceived restorativeness. Additionally, perceived greenness exhibited a significantly positive impact on perceived restorativeness but did not significantly influence psychological well-being. Perceived restorativeness, in turn, positively influenced psychological well-being. Notably, nature and social support were identified as the most influential aspects of senior-friendly features, while fascination emerged as the most influential dimension of perceived restorativeness. Furthermore, this study explored the mediating role of perceived greenness in the relationship between senior-friendly features and perceived restorativeness. The results confirmed this mediating effect, supporting the hypothesis that perceived greenness serves as a perceptual bridge that enhances the restorative quality of the environment. This study contributes valuable insights into the design of age-friendly parks, offering evidence-based recommendations for fostering well-being among older individuals living in urban settings.

The role of virtual reality in improving neighborhood park design: A comparative study of virtual reality and traditional approaches

Parks design relies on understanding user preferences, which are determined through interviews, surveys, and observations. However, previous methods are limited in their capacity to explore user preferences, which necessitates the development of new approaches. Virtual reality (VR) is an effective tool for modeling perceptions and simulating the real world, yet its impact on overcoming previous limitations remains unexplored. This study aims to assess VR's role in addressing challenges and limitations related to people's uses and preferences regarding neighborhood parks. Using an experimental approach, we test factors that influence park visits, using both traditional methods and VR to analyze the extent to which VR can mitigate these challenges. The study reveals that, among individuals in various age groups, perception significantly influences responses. In addition, VR helps overcome issues with traditional research methods, ensuring result validity and interpretation of differences. Ultimately, compared to traditional methods, using VR improves the sense of certainty among individuals regarding their preferences.

Exploring the Temporary Appropriation of Marginal Open Spaces in Urban Residential Neighbourhoods

Open spaces are essential to the liveability of urban residential neighbourhoods. While formal open spaces, including neighbourhood parks, have been extensively studied for their environmental and social values, there is scanty research on marginal open spaces’ potential uses and benefits. By drawing on an empirical study of residential neighbourhoods in a Nigerian urban centre, this study explores the temporary appropriation of marginal open spaces. The study adopts a mixed-method approach using a questionnaire survey, photographic recordings, observations, open space measurements and interviews with local planning authorities. Findings showed that marginal spaces exist in various types and forms, including open areas along neighbourhood streets and stream corridors. The three major types of temporary appropriation in the residential neighbourhoods were “Informal commerce”, “Leisure/social pursuit” and “Sacralisation (religious activity)”. The most critical concerns regarding open space appropriation, measured on a five-point Likert scale, were “Lack of safety”, “Absence of tree cover/shade” and “Stench from uncollected waste”, with scales of 4.92, 4.68 and 4.42, respectively. Information gathered from the local planning authorities also showed that the users violated the planning regulations guiding the marginal spaces. The study concluded that although the temporary use of open spaces in residential neighbourhoods is essential for improving the residents’ livelihoods and socio-cultural lives, the practice is fraught with several challenges. Consequently, practical policy recommendations were proffered to ensure that marginal spaces are produced as desirable areas for everyday life while maintaining hygiene, safety, cleanliness and comfort.

The moderating effects of mobile applications on the use of urban green space and mental health of older people: A mixed-method investigation in Hong Kong

Existing literature on the relationship between urban green space (UGS) use and mental health of older people was mainly conducted before the widespread adoption of digital technologies in daily life. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has fostered the use of mobile applications (apps) at a time city dwellers, including older people, were required to stay home. Drawing upon the insights from emerging literature on the changing relationship between UGS use and mental health of older people in the digital era in urban and gerontological studies, this paper offers a vivid mixed-method to investigate whether mobile app use has supplemented or substituted UGS visits and activities that further influence on the mental health of older people. This is achieved by conducting 360 questionnaire surveys in elderly community centers amid the pandemic and 23 semi-structured interviews in local neighbourhood parks after the pandemic by the authors. Results demonstrates mobile app use frequency may moderate the proximity-mental health relationship, but only among the older people with lower mental health levels. Among this sub-group, digital consumption app use frequency weakens the proximity-mental health relationship on marginal significance, which illustrates digital consumption apps may substitute the role of urban parks on improving older people’s mental health. Furthermore, digital communication and recreation mobile app use frequency strengthens the proximity-mental health relationship on marginal significance, which suggests these mobile apps may supplement the role of urban parks on improving older people’s mental health, particularly during the pandemic. The research pleas for more research on how digitalization of everyday activities is transforming the use of UGS such as neighbourhood parks and subsequent impact on the mental health of older people in the widespread adoption of digital technologies.

Developing Place Attachment in Master-Planned Residential Estates in Sydney: The Influence of Neighbourhood Parks

Master-Planned Residential Estate (MPRE) is an integrated housing development form in Australia. MPREs are aimed to build a sense of place attachment and community via the provision of environmental and social infrastructure. Neighbourhood parks are regarded as a significant built environmental factor linked to residents’ place attachment and well-being in the literature. Understanding place attachment is crucial for promoting residents’ well-being in neighbourhoods and enhancing the attractiveness of real estates in the housing market. However, we know little about how place attachment is facilitated for park users in neighbourhoods. The psychological process of place attachment in MPREs is unclear in the literature, with a particular lack of qualitative studies in this area. This study explored the psychological process of place attachment and its associations with neighbourhood parks in MPREs in Sydney via a qualitative case study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 residents residing in two selected MPREs in Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Interviews found three themes and several subthemes regarding the process of place attachment for park users in MPREs: affect (emotional bonds), behaviour (place-related fulfilment of needs, place-related social bonds, and community participation), and cognition (membership of the community, place-related memory, and cultural significance). This study contributes to understanding place attachment and human-environment relations in sustainable neighbourhoods by adding new items into place attachment models from the perspective of MPREs in Sydney. It provides valuable qualitative evidence gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings furnish empirical insights for policymakers, developers, and urban planners involved in sustainable neighbourhoods’ development and housing management in Sydney and global regions.

Did COVID-19 Reshape Visitor Preferences in Urban Parks? Investigating Influences on Sentiments in Shanghai, China

Urban parks can be critical components of city landscapes. In the wake of COVID-19, understanding the role of urban parks in helping to elicit positive sentiment and improve the overall well-being of visitors has gained new traction in the literature. This research distinctively investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic altered preferences regarding urban parks and identifies the key landscape attributes and environmental factors that influenced positive visitor sentiment, thereby addressing a critical gap in understanding the evolving dynamics of urban green spaces in the post-pandemic era. We use a mixed methods approach that includes natural language processing techniques to analyze crowd sourced data across more than 100 urban parks in Shanghai, China. Not surprisingly, our results highlight a post-pandemic rise in preferences for neighborhood parks and features typically associated with neighborhood parks, such as walking accessibility and surrounding residential densities. In addition, we found six park features, the presence of grasslands, water bodies, walking paths, and proximity to shopping facilities, significantly impacted the ways in which people perceived their park experience. These insights can guide urban park planning, design, and management in our evolving post-pandemic landscape to help ensure that urban parks continue to serve as essential urban spaces.

Localized effects of neighborhood park exposure on mental illness mortality in the Pacific Northwest United States

Most studies on the mental health effect of greenspace assumed a constant effect of greenspace exposure over the entire study region. We expanded upon literature by hypothesizing spatial disparities in the effect of greenspace exposure on mental illness mortality across census tracts in Oregon (OR) and Washington (WA). Mental illness mortality was calculated using death register data with coordinates of residence over 13 years (2006-2018). Neighborhood park exposure was evaluated as the total area of parks in each census tract. Results indicated that the impact of park areas on mental illness mortality varied across census tracts in OR (Relative Risk=0.985, 95% credible interval=[0.950, 1.020] ‒ 1.030 [0.990, 1.072]) and WA (0.992 [0.952, 1.034] ‒ 1.013 [0.980, 1.048]). These estimates shifted overall fixed effect RRs (OR: 0.976 [0.958, 0.994]; WA: 0.976 [0.956, 0.996]). Protective effects were more likely in areas between Olympia, WA and Portland, OR. The urban-rural contrasts were explained by patients’ preference, differential greenspace accessibility, and limited park supply in national and state forests. This research highlights the disparity in greenspace effect on mental illness mortality and calls for integrating local effect variability into mental health outcomes-greenspace studies.

Cognitive Restoration Design: A Psychological Intervention for Stress Mitigation in Neighbourhood Park

Numerous research studies have revealed the landscape’s positive effects on human health and well-being. While prior research underscores landscapes' positive impact on well-being, a gap still needs to be in comprehending their influence on psychological and cognitive aspects. This research focuses on how landscape attributes, specifically those seen in neighbourhood parks, may serve as a stress-relieving cognitive stimulus. In this study, we utilised qualitative research design by employing an in-depth expert interview method to explore what causes stress in urban communities and how specific landscape attributes can improve mental health and well-being. A total of 12 experts consisting of clinical psychologists, counsellors, neuropsychologists, therapists, landscape professionals and academia have consented to participate in this interview. The results illuminate a conceptual framework illustrating how psychological and cognitive landscape attributes can effectively promote cognitive restoration. The findings indicate that the design must be human centred as people are born with innate sense, intuition, and preference, all of which should be considered while designing for their psychological needs. Particularly to stimulate the cognitive part, providing landscape design elements that could inspire enthusiasm is important. This could encourage people to go to the park and interact with various stress-relieving landscape stimuli. Hence, designing for user comfort, safety, social interaction, and pleasurable experiences is critical for achieving cognitive restoration goals.

Association Between Lack of Access to a Neighborhood Park and High Blood Pressure in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

Association Between Lack of Access to a Neighborhood Park and High Blood Pressure in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

Nature in the concrete jungle: valuing urban ecosystem services in Costa Rica

AbstractUrban green spaces are primarily recognized for their ability to provide opportunities for recreational activities. However, these spaces also offer a broader range of ecosystem services and benefits, which are often overlooked by city inhabitants and the government. This paper utilizes choice experiments to estimate the benefits derived from ecosystem services provided by undeveloped natural areas and urban parks in San José, Costa Rica. We evaluate three ecosystem services provided by undeveloped natural areas, namely habitats for animals and plants, hydrological control, and recreation. Additionally, we estimate the benefits derived from the restoration and construction of three types of urban parks: neighborhood, metropolitan, and central district parks. The results demonstrate that individuals place significant value on the restoration of undeveloped natural areas and urban parks. The findings also indicate variations in the valuation of ecosystem services between undeveloped natural areas and different park types, as well as among households.

Study of Public Space Use and Design based on Japanese and Foreign Perceptions

Public space will be studied regarding history, use, and the evolution of urban space. Through culture, architecture, and behavior, this paper investigates how Japanese and foreigners use public space. Foreigners use open spaces such as neighborhood parks more frequently than Japanese people, who consider space sacred and private. Because of this study, urban space will be analyzed from the perspective of Japanese culture and customs as well as foreign culture to qualify the precise meaning of space, urban space, and cultural space, within the context of diverse conditions and ethnicities. Residents who frequently use neighborhood parks recognize that foreigners are more welcome and that spatial accessibility contributes to the creation of a unifying space in their neighborhoods. Understanding cultural views and ethnic behavior is critical to the design and implementation of effective and creative urban spaces.

Neighborhood park access and park characteristics are associated with weight status in youth.

This study investigated park access and park quality in the context of childhood obesity. Participants were 20,638 children ages 6-17y from a large primary care health system. Analyses tested associations of park access and park characteristics with children's weight status, and sociodemographic interactions. Both park access and the quality of nearest park were associated with a lower odds of having obesity. Park quality interacted with age, sex, and income. Findings suggest park access is important for supporting a healthy weight in children. Park quality may be most important among 12-14-year-olds, girls, and higher income groups.

Environmental Justice and Phoenix, Arizona Neighborhood Parks

Environmental Justice and Phoenix, Arizona Neighborhood Parks

Association between neighborhood availability of physical activity facilities and cognitive performance in older adults

The existing evidence on the contextual influence of the availability of local facilities for physical activity on the cognitive health of elderly residents is sparse. This study examined the association between neighborhood physical activity facilities and cognitive health in older individuals. A cohort study of community-dwelling older adults was performed using baseline data and follow-up data from the Taiwan Biobank. Cognitive health was measured in 32,396 individuals aged 60–70 years using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with follow-up information on 8025 participants. The district was used as the proxy for local neighborhood. To determine neighborhood physical activity facilities, school campuses, parks, activity centers, gyms, swimming pools, and stadiums were included. Multilevel linear regression models were applied to examine the associations of neighborhood physical activity facilities with baseline MMSE and MMSE decline during follow-up, with adjustment for individual factors and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. Multilevel analyses revealed that there was a neighborhood-level effect on cognitive health among older adults. After adjusting for compositional and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics, baseline MMSE was higher in individuals living in the middle- (beta = 0.12, p-value = 0.140) and high-density facility (beta = 0.22, p-value = 0.025) groups than in the low-density group (p-value for trend-test = 0.031). MMSE decline during follow-up was slower in the middle- (beta = 0.15, p-value = 0.114) and high-density facility (beta = 0.27, p-value = 0.052) groups than in the low-density group (p-value for trend-test = 0.032). Greater neighborhood availability of physical activity facilities was associated with better cognitive health among older residents. These findings have implications for designing communities and developing strategies to support cognitive health of an aging population.

Comparing the prevalence of chronic pain in school-aged children in the United States from 2019 to 2020: a nationally representative study examining differences associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic negatively affected children's health in the United States (US), with more severe disruption for marginalized groups. However, potential impact on pediatric chronic pain has not been assessed at the population level. This study aimed to (1) estimate differences in the US national prevalence of pediatric chronic pain during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), relative to one year earlier (2019); (2) determine whether differences in prevalence varied across sociodemographic groups; and (3) explore changes in child, caregiver, and family factors associated with chronic pain prevalence. Using data of children 6 to 17 years from the National Survey of Children's Health 2019 and 2020 (n = 50,518), we compared weighted percentages of sample characteristics by year and conducted a series of directed-acyclic graph-informed survey-weighted Poisson regressions. The estimated national prevalence (95% CI) of pediatric chronic pain was 10.8% (9.9, 11.9%) in 2019, decreasing to 7.6% (6.9, 8.3%) in 2020. Contrary to hypotheses, the adjusted prevalence of chronic pain was 31% lower in 2020 than in 2019 (aPR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.79), adjusting for child age, sex, race or ethnicity, caregiver education, neighborhood park or playground, and census region. The 2019 to 2020 change in chronic pain prevalence was similar by age ( P = 0.34), sex ( P = 0.94), race or ethnicity ( P = 0.41), caregiver education ( P = 0.49), neighborhood park or playground ( P = 0.22), and census region ( P = 0.20). Exploratory analyses identified 3 potential contributors to the unexpected decrease in the national prevalence of pediatric chronic pain: lower prevalence of bullying, more frequent family meals, and higher family resilience.