Park Proximity Research Articles

Impacts of Madhupur National Park on Local Peoples’ Livelihood

In this study, the impact of Madhupur National Park on local peoples’ livelihoods was assessed. To find local peoples perception on collaborative natural resources management. This study was conducted from July, 2012 to December, 2012 on two villages named Talki and Sholakuri. Data collection was based on stratified random sample. Stratification was based on park proximity of respondent households that is (inside park) 0 km, 0.5 km distance, 1 km distance, 1.5 km distance and 2 km distance from Madhupur National Park boundary. The five strata were compared with respect to household’s natural resource dependency, household’s income, income diversification, income level, assets and perception on present management system. Present management system was also discussed to emphasize park management authority contribution on local livelihood. Based on analysis of collected data from two villages it was assumed that the nearest people were more dependent on natural resource of park than far people. The simple correlation coefficient for the distance of household with natural resource dependency was negatively significant. Household average monthly incomes in two villages were approximately same but Talki villagers were 79.25% depend on park related activity and this dependency decreased with increasing of distance. Present park management system plays an important role to reduce people and park animosity by providing aid and training to the local offensive persons and involve them into park conservation. A trend analysis of decreasing forest offences represented that, the present management system is better than past time and it could be able to reduce people park animosity.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2.14603 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(2): 63-66 2012

Associations between body mass index and park proximity, size, cleanliness, and recreational facilities.

To determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with proximity to neighborhood parks, the size of the parks, their cleanliness, and the availability of recreational facilities in the parks. Cross-sectional. New York City. Adults (13,102) were recruited from 2000 to 2002 (median age 45 years, 36% male). Anthropometric and sociodemographic data from study subjects were linked to Department of Parks & Recreation data on park space, cleanliness, and facilities. Neighborhood-level sociodemographic and park proximity metrics were created for half-mile-radius circular buffers around each subject's residence. Proximity to park space was measured as the proportion of the subject's neighborhood buffer area that was total park space, large park space (a park > 6 acres) and small park space (a park ≤ 6 acres). Analysis. Hierarchical linear models were used to determine whether neighborhood park metrics were associated with BMI. Higher proximity to large park space was significantly associated with lower BMI (beta = -1.69, 95% confidence interval = -2.76, -.63). Across the population distribution of proximity to large park space, compared to subjects living in neighborhoods at the 10th percentile of the distribution, the covariate-adjusted average BMI was estimated to be .35 kg/m lower for those living in neighborhoods at the 90th percentile. The proportion of neighborhood area that was small park space was not associated with BMI, nor was park cleanliness or the availability of recreational facilities. Neighborhood proximity to large park spaces is modestly associated with lower BMI in a diverse urban population.

Neighbourhood Environmental Correlates of Perceived Park Proximity in Montreal

Objectives: Perceived proximity to recreational settings has been shown to be associated with increased physical activity levels. We examined individual socio-demographic and environmental correlates of perceived park proximity in Montreal to assess targets for ecological interventions to improve physical activity. Methods: A stratified clustered sampling design was used to collect data on perceived park proximity from 864 adults residing in 300 Montreal census tracts. Perceived park proximity was measured by asking participants if they perceived a park as within walking distance of their home. Objective measures of park proximity and park density were constructed using geographic information systems (GIS). Canada Census data provided information on census tract population density and median income levels. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood of not perceiving a park as proximate. Results: Older adults were more likely to perceive a park as not proximate to their home (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). Perceived park proximity varied across Montreal neighbourhoods with an interclass correlation coefficient of 16.10%. Objective distance to the closest park (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.10-1.92) was associated with adults’ subjective perceptions of park proximity. Residents of neighbourhoods with higher population density (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87-0.97) and higher average income (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24-0.87) were less likely to view a park as outside walking distance to their residence. Conclusion: Regardless of the actual distance to the park, neighbourhood environmental factors are associated with people’s perceptions of having a park within walking distance of their homes. Key words: Spatial behavior; urban health; residence characteristics; socioeconomic factors; environment

Neighbourhood environmental correlates of perceived park proximity in Montreal.

Perceived proximity to recreational settings has been shown to be associated with increased physical activity levels. We examined individual socio-demographic and environmental correlates of perceived park proximity in Montreal to assess targets for ecological interventions to improve physical activity. A stratified clustered sampling design was used to collect data on perceived park proximity from 864 adults residing in 300 Montreal census tracts. Perceived park proximity was measured by asking participants if they perceived a park as within walking distance of their home. Objective measures of park proximity and park density were constructed using geographic information systems (GIS). Canada Census data provided information on census tract population density and median income levels. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood of not perceiving a park as proximate. Older adults were more likely to perceive a park as not proximate to their home (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). Perceived park proximity varied across Montreal neighbourhoods with an interclass correlation coefficient of 16.10%. Objective distance to the closest park (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.10-1.92) was associated with adults' subjective perceptions of park proximity. Residents of neighbourhoods with higher population density (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87-0.97) and higher average income (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24-0.87) were less likely to view a park as outside walking distance to their residence. Regardless of the actual distance to the park, neighbourhood environmental factors are associated with people's perceptions of having a park within walking distance of their homes.

Property values, parks, and crime: A hedonic analysis in Baltimore, MD

While urban parks are generally considered to be a positive amenity, past research suggests that some parks are perceived as a neighborhood liability. Using hedonic analysis of property data in Baltimore, MD, we attempted to determine whether crime rate mediates how parks are valued by the housing market. Transacted price was regressed against park proximity, area-weighted robbery and rape rates for the Census block groups encompassing the parks, and an interaction term, adjusting for a number of other variables. Four models were estimated, including one where selling price was log-transformed but distance to park was not, one where both were log-transformed, a Box–Cox regression, and a spatially adjusted regression. All results indicate that park proximity is positively valued by the housing market where the combined robbery and rape rates for a neighborhood are below a certain threshold rate but negatively valued where above that threshold. Depending on which model is used, this threshold occurs at a crime index value of between 406 and 484 (that is, between 406% and 484% of the national average; the average rate by block group for Baltimore is 475% of the national average). For all models, the further the crime index value is from the threshold value for a particular property, the steeper the relationship is between park proximity and home value.

The Role of Park Proximity and Social Support in Shaping Park Visitation, Physical Activity, and Perceived Health Among Older Adults

Health scholars purport that park proximity and social support promotes physical activity and health. However, few studies examine the combined contributions of these constructs in shaping physical activity and health. In this study, the contributions of environmental and social characteristics in shaping park use, physical activity, and health are examined. A survey was distributed to 1515 older adults in Cleveland, Ohio. Path analysis indicated that social support was directly related to health. Perceived park walking proximity was related to physical activity and health through park use frequency. Park proximity was directly related to park use duration. RESULTS suggest that environmental and social characteristics contribute to physical activity and health, but perceptions may also be a prerequisite to park use, daily physical activity, and health.

Housing Density and the Effect of Proximity to Public Open Space in Aberdeen, Scotland

We consider whether public recreational open space is a substitute for private open space by testing whether price effects from proximity to an urban park are increasing in housing density. Aberdeen, Scotland features three owner‐occupied residential property types: detached housing, nondetached housing and flats. We examine property sales within 800 m of five city parks. We find flat prices increase with additional proximity to parks, but there are generally no price effects from park proximity for lower density housing types. The results suggest that open space policy must consider the scale and density of surrounding urban development.

Public Parks and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls

OBJECTIVES.Physical activity may be constrained or facilitated by local environments. The availability of neighborhood facilities for physical activity may be particularly relevant for youth, who are unable to drive and whose activity is often limited to the immediate distance they are able to walk or bicycle. Several studies have shown that proximity to recreational facilities and parks is one of the most important predictors of physical activity. Because the United States already has an extensive infrastructure of parks, with 70% of adults indicating that they live within walking distance of a park or playground, parks may be a potential venue for increasing physical activity. This might be particularly important for adolescent girls, whose physical activity levels decline substantially as they go through puberty. The goal of this study was to examine the association between park proximity, park type, and park features and physical activity in adolescent girls. PATIENTS AND METHODS.This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. It included 1556 grade 6 girls who were randomly selected from 6 middle schools in each of the following 6 field site areas: Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland; Columbia, South Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tucson, Arizona; and San Diego, California. Girls wore accelerometers for 6 days to measure metabolic equivalent‐ weighted moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a measure accounting for the volume and intensity of activity. Metabolic equivalent‐weighted moderate-tovigorous physical activity was calculated for the hours outside of school time using 2 different cutpoints, activity levels 3.0 metabolic equivalents and 4.6 metabolic equivalents, the latter indicating activity at the intensity of a brisk walk or higher. We mapped all of the parks within 1 mile of each girl’s home. Trained staff used a checklist to document the presence of facilities and amenities at each park, including passive amenities, such as drinking fountains, restrooms, and areas with shade, as well as active amenities like basketball courts, multipurpose fields, playgrounds, and tennis courts.

Neighborhood Parks and Residential Property Values in Greenville, South Carolina

AbstractThe effect on housing prices of proximity to different types of parks is estimated using a unique data set of single-family homes sold between 1990 and 1999 in Greenville, South Carolina. While the value of park proximity is found to vary with respect to park size and amenities, the estimates from this study are larger than previous studies. The greatest impact on housing values was found with proximity to small neighborhood parks, with the positive impact of proximity to both small and medium-size parks extending to homes as far as 1500 feet from the park.