Park Research Articles

Adverse health effects of exposure to plastic, microplastics and their additives: environmental, legal and policy implications for Israel

BackgroundIsrael is a regional "hotspot" of plastic pollution, with little discussion of potential adverse health effects from exposure to plastic. This review aims to stimulate discussion and drive policy by focusing on these adverse health effects.Main bodyPlastics are synthetic polymers containing additives which can leach from food- and beverage-contact plastic into our food and beverages, and from plastic textiles onto our skin. Plastics persist in the environment for generations, fragmenting into MNPs: Micro (1 micron–5 mm)-Nano (1 nm–1 micron)-Plastic, which contaminate our atmosphere, water, and food chain. MNP can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation and touch. MNP < 10 microns can cross epithelial barriers in the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, and fragments < 100 nm can cross intact skin, enabling entry into body tissues. MNP have been found in multiple organs of the human body. Patients with MNP in atheromas of carotid arteries have increased risk of a combined measure of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and death. Toxic additives to plastics include bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which cause dysregulation of thyroid function, reproduction, and metabolism, including increased risk of obesity, diabetes, endometriosis, cancer, and decreased fertility, sperm count and quality. Fetal exposure to EDCs is associated with increased rates of miscarriages, prematurity and low birth weight. There is likely no safe level of exposure to EDCs, with increasing evidence of trans-generational and epigenetic effects. There are several existing Israeli laws to reduce plastic use and waste. Taxes on single-use plastic (SUP) were recently cancelled. There are many gaps in regulatory standards for food-, beverage- and child- safe plastic. Existing standards are poorly enforced.ConclusionReduction in production and use of plastic, promotion of recycling and reduction of leaching of toxic additives into our food and beverages are essential policy goals. Specific recommendations: Periodic monitoring of MNP in bottled beverages, food, indoor air; Strengthen enforcement of standards for food-, beverage-, and child-safe plastic; Renew tax on SUPs; National ban on SUP at public beaches, nature reserves and parks; Ban products manufactured with MNP; Increase research on sources and health outcomes of exposure to MNP and EDCs.

A Study on the Impact of Public Parks on Community Health

To ascertain if living near green spaces is linked with the health and well-being of the inhabitants of Denton County, this study examines the variables that characterize community well-being regarding park accessibility and proximity. This research identifies a few factors likely to impact residents’ wellness. These factors determine whether living close to or having access to green spaces positively correlates with residents’ health and wellness. This paper found out that distance to the park is not the only factor that enhances physical activity; other factors such as types of nature (Blue space and Countryside) and size of green spaces, accessibility of parks, quality of parks, Social and recreational services availability; park maintenance, and management is influential. Overall, proximity to green spaces, such as parks and natural areas, has been associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. Green spaces contribute to cleaner air by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen.

Parasitic Contamination of Soil in the Southern United States.

Parasites are generally associated with lower income countries in tropical and subtropical areas. Still, they are also prevalent in low-income communities in the southern United States. Studies characterizing the epidemiology of parasites in the United States are limited, resulting in little comprehensive understanding of the problem. This study investigated the environmental contamination of parasites in the southern United States by determining each parasite's contamination rate and burden in five low-income communities. A total of 499 soil samples of approximately 50 g were collected from public parks and private residences in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. A technique using parasite floatation, filtration, and bead-beating was applied to dirt samples to concentrate and extract parasite DNA from samples and detected via multiparallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). qPCR detected total sample contamination of Blastocystis spp. (19.03%), Toxocara cati (6.01%), Toxocara canis (3.61%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2.00%), Trichuris trichiura (1.80%), Ancylostoma duodenale (1.42%), Giardia intestinalis (1.40%), Cryptosporidium spp. (1.01%), Entamoeba histolytica (0.20%), and Necator americanus (0.20%). The remaining samples had no parasitic contamination. Overall parasite contamination rates varied significantly between communities: western Mississippi (46.88%), southwestern Alabama (39.62%), northeastern Louisiana (27.93%), southwestern South Carolina (27.93%), and south Texas (6.93%) (P <0.0001). T. cati DNA burdens were more significant in communities with higher poverty rates, including northeastern Louisiana (50.57%) and western Mississippi (49.60%) compared with southwestern Alabama (30.05%) and southwestern South Carolina (25.01%) (P = 0.0011). This study demonstrates the environmental contamination of parasites and their relationship with high poverty rates in communities in the southern United States.

Guideline towards sustainable infrastructure in new urban communities – Egypt

The challenges related to sanitation and water management in new urban communities have contributed to the emergence of visions of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) and Water Sensitive Urban Design in cities worldwide to keep pace with these subtle changes in the shape of the urban environment. This research paper aims to monitor the main obstacles and challenges facing residents of new cities in Egypt and the environmental impacts resulting from those challenges in the urban context. A questionnaire was conducted among a group of the population. This study took the economic housing model for low-income people in the 6th of October City in Egypt as a case study. As a result, the study found that the main challenges facing the residents of these areas and their impacts are:1) Lack of regular maintenance. 2) Health risks to the population. 3) Damaging of public parks and gardens. 4) Pollution of the surrounding environment, including soil and water. 5) Lack of state funding for maintenance and Limited financial resources available for projects in this type of housing. 6) Lack of government engagement in preparing programs to raise population awareness and clarity in environmental goals and quality of life policies. 7) Lack of community initiatives to participate in decision-making. 8) Lack of political guidance on planning processes for sustainable infrastructure.

Beyond physical and representational violence: the violence of Black children’s invisibility in public spaces

ABSTRACT George Floyd’s May 2020 murder by police underscored the interconnectedness of violence, systemic racism, and white supremacy in the US. This essay explores violence against Black children as an historical extension of the violence against Black adults and communities that is often at the centre of social justice and anti-racism work. We connect recent social media posts of Black children being ignored, waved away, or pushed by public amusement park performers with the current conservative political climate legislating the erasure or censoring of US history in K-12 schools allegedly to ‘save the [white] children’ from the misnamed ‘Critical Race Theory’.

Socio-environmental drivers of human-nature interactions in urban green spaces

Online platforms have broadened the opportunities of people to interact with nature through community/citizen science, especially in urban areas. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence nature interactions in cities. Here, we aim to identify the social and environmental predictors that impact nature interactions, by combining citizen science data with environmental and demographic data in New York City. We applied generalized linear models to identify which of 12 social and environmental factors influence nature interactions in public parks (n = 355) in the Borough of Queens, New York, New York (USA) in two scenarios, small-medium sized parks only (n = 355) and all parks (n = 359). We used iNaturalist records, including the number of users (Observers), Observations, Observed Biodiversity, and a calculated interaction effect (number of users × observations, Interaction), as metrics of nature interactions. For small-medium parks, all nature interactions were significantly influenced by park area, canopy cover, percent population with blood pressure and asthma conditions, noise, and summer mean temperature. Observers and Interaction were positively associated with median income. Observers, Observations, and Interaction were predicted by percent water cover, impervious cover, distance to public transportation, and ethnic diversity. In the analysis that included all parks, the results were similar with minor differences. This study demonstrates a holistic approach to a very specific type of human-nature interaction newly made available with technological advances, seen through an interdisciplinary lens and will help inform planners, residents, and city government on creating more interactive and socio-environmentally beneficial urban green spaces.

Citizens’ and government officials’ perceptions of commercialization in Cairo’s public parks

ABSTRACT Public park commercialization has primarily been studied in the Global North, and little is known about how it developed in the Global South. This paper uses public parks in Cairo, Egypt, to explore commercialization practices in public space. Public parks in Cairo are commercialized mainly under the pretext of helping pay for them. In this context, some citizens raise their concerns over the potential impacts of commercialization on the public availability and accessibility of parks. Using on-site observations, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis of social media data, this study aims to understand how commercialization manifests in the landscape of Cairo’s public parks, how managing authorities justify commercialization practices, and how and why some residents contest these changes. Results show that commercialization prevails in the day-to-day administration of Cairo’s public parks. By demonstrating growing public park commercialization in an important megalopolis of the Global South, we contribute to ongoing debates on the social and environmental consequences of prioritizing the parks’ exchange value over their use value.

Analysis of the Species Composition of Wood and Shrubs Species, Their Role in the Structure of City Parks of Osh

In the city of Osh, one of the acute problems when using wood species in landscape design is the study of their ecological properties in relation to the environment. The planting of trees in urban parks, squares along streets and boulevards is influenced by various environmental factors. In such conditions, the study of the ecological state and viability of plants is relevant, since woody plants perform sanitary, hygienic and aesthetic functions in an urbanized environment. The main purpose of this scientific article is to identify in the conditions of the city of Osh, the peculiarities of the development of ornamental species of woody and shrubby plants, the ecological justification of their reconstruction, to improve the sanitary and hygienic condition and the development of practical recommendations in landscape works. The study of the characteristics of tree and shrub species and the results obtained to assess their role in the structure of urban parks in Osh will help to improve their decorative qualities, the correct choice of their placement, care and improvement of the urban environment. The results of the work can also be used in the construction and reconstruction of green spaces in parks in the city of Osh, as well as in the improvement of other public facilities in the city. The practical recommendations obtained from the results of the study initiate a large-scale reconstruction of planted species of trees and shrubs in parks, squares and along modern streets.

Inequity in Access to Sustainable Urban Parks in South Tucson, AZ

This study highlights the poor conditions of urban parks in South Tucson, a predominantly Hispanic area, and provides actionable solutions for enhancing equity in urban park access and quality. This was done by comparing the parks in the study area to the parks in East Tucson, an area predominantly Caucasian. The samples were selected using stratified random sampling. The case study method was used to make a comparison between three parks in south Tucson, namely Santa Rosa, Mirasol, and Ormsby Parks, and those in East Tucson, namely Roy P. Drachmann Agua, Morris K. Udall, and Michael Perry Parks. Findings show that parks in east Tucson had more amenities, were better maintained, were larger, and had a higher proportion of green spaces and more facilities than those in south Tucson. The author recommends that park authorities ensure that the parks in South Tucson are well-maintained and have enough amenities and green spaces to meet the needs of the residents. Also, the residents should collaborate to identify park development priorities to ensure they have a voice in creating sustainable parks in their communities. Lastly, the principles of environmental justice should be included as a criterion for the distribution and maintenance of public parks for underserved populations.

Public perceptions of human excretion-based fertiliser in England and Japan

This study investigates public attitudes towards the use of human excretion-based fertiliser (HEBF) in agriculture. Focusing on England and Japan, countries with contrasting histories of nightsoil use, we conducted representative surveys to understand public acceptance and sex-based differences in attitudes. Our findings reveal significant cultural and sex-based disparities in the willingness to utilize HEBF. The Japanese are more accepting of using HEBF for food production, with fewer health concerns, compared to the English. However, English respondents are more open to using HEBF in public parks. The study emphasises the need for further research on societal perceptions and highlights the importance of cultural context in adopting sustainable practices like HEBF in agriculture.

Effects of Community Assets on Major Health Conditions in England: A Data Analytic Approach.

The broader determinants of health including a wide range of community assets are extremely important in relation to public health outcomes. Multiple health conditions, multimorbidity, is a growing problem in many populations worldwide. This paper quantified the effect of community assets on major health conditions for the population of England over six years, at a fine spatial scale using a data analytic approach. Community assets, which included indices of the health system, green space, pollution, poverty, urban environment, safety, and sport and leisure facilities, were quantified in relation to major health conditions. The health conditions examined included high blood pressure, obesity, dementia, diabetes, mental health, cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, respiratory conditions, kidney and liver disease, and cancer. Cluster analysis and dendrograms were calculated for the community assets and major health conditions. For each health condition, a statistical model with all community assets was fitted, and model selection was performed. The number of significant community assets for each health condition was recorded. The unique variance, explained by each significant community asset per health condition, was quantified using hierarchical variance partitioning within an analysis of variance model. The resulting data indicate major health conditions are often clustered, as are community assets. The results suggest that diversity and richness of community assets are key to major health condition outcomes. Primary care service waiting times and distance to public parks were significant predictors of all health conditions examined. Primary care waiting times explained the vast majority of the variances across health conditions, with the exception of obesity, which was better explained by absolute poverty. The implications of the combined findings of the health condition clusters and explanatory power of community assets are discussed. The vast majority of determinants of health could be accounted for by healthcare system performance and distance to public green space, with important covariate socioeconomic factors. Emphases on community approaches, significant relationships, and asset strengths and deficits are needed alongside targeted interventions. Whilst the performance of the public health system remains of key importance, community assets and local infrastructure remain paramount to the broader determinants of health.

Assessment of Park Paths and Trails for Physical Activity Promotion among Older Adults in Saudi Arabia: Feasibility and Future Directions.

A descriptive study design was used to assess five public parks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April to June 2022. Additionally, process, resource, and management assessments were also conducted. The PEAT was easy to use, but additions are recommended to increase relevance to older adults with chronic disease. Descriptive analyses revealed positive features, such as adequate lighting, but other features such as path slope were more variable. Study findings can guide the future use of the PEAT for older adult participants and inform environmental modifications.

Urban Landscape Management of Makassar City Based on Waterfront City Concept

Abstract Makassar City is one of the coastal cities in Indonesia with a 32 km long coastline. This extensive coastal stretch harbors numerous potential natural resources. Recognizing the coastal region’s potential, the government has been implementing the Waterfront City concept to develop and manage this area. Since 2003, the Makassar City government has actively undertaken revitalization and reclamation efforts in the coastal zone, aiming to establish various facilities including commercial areas, public parks, residential zones, and tourism infrastructure, all with the aim of achieving the status of a waterfront city. However, these ongoing development and reclamation activities are inevitably transforming the coastal landscape, bringing about both positive and negative changes. On the downside, there are adverse effects such as deteriorating water quality and diminishing mangrove areas. Conversely, there has been an increase in tourist arrivals, showcasing a positive aspect. This study aims to assess the suitability of land in the coastal areas and the visual appeal of Makassar City’s waterfront, providing recommendations for coastal landscape management. Based on the analysis of land suitability and the aesthetics of the coastal area of Makassar City, the urban areas generally possess land suitable for implementing the waterfront city concept, categorized into three zones: tourism, residential, and conservation, to optimize land functionality. Besides the quality of the beautiful coast has a fairly good value with a neat and clean conditions.

From communal places to comfort zones: Familiar stranger encounters in everyday life as a form of belonging

Familiar strangers, individuals who are visually recognisable yet do not engage in verbal conversations, emerge in communal urban places on the way and in between regular daily activities in the home and workplace. Described as invisible social ties and light touch community, familiar strangers represent an understudied and untapped source of sociality that offer promise by way of an antidote to the global increase in reports of loneliness. In this study, we examine the extent to which familiar stranger encounters in communal everyday places might act as an important source of social identity, belonging and perceived attachment. We estimate regression models using data from a 2022 intercept survey of 278 residents in Brisbane, Australia conducted in situ at public parks, transit stations, retail environments, and thoroughfares to estimate the influence of familiar strangers and frequency of visitation on sense of belonging and place attachment. Our results show belonging emerges through familiar stranger encounters in everyday communal places outside of the residential neighbourhood and suggest that coupling urban design features that enhance visible proximity with scheduling that encourages repeated, synchronised visitation can contribute to bounded communities of belonging at everyday communal places.

“Unfenced” parks and residents’ visit patterns: A regression discontinuity design in Shanghai

Parks have evolved into essential urban sanctuaries, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While previous studies have investigated the impact of lockdown measures on park visitation, limited attention has been given to the impacts of sudden easing of containment measures, especially the “unfencing” of parks in densely populated cities. Employing a regression discontinuity design (RDD), this study analyzes changes in park visitation behaviors among Shanghai residents (N=563) following the policy relaxation. We focus on three key aspects: visitation behavior, choice of park types, and activities undertaken within public parks compared to gated community greenspaces. The results reveal a short-term decrease in visits to nearby parks, reduced public transit use, and shorter travel times. This trend was accompanied by a reduction in visitation to various park types, especially larger ones, with waterfront greenspaces being an exception. However, visit frequency and duration remained unchanged. A significant decrease in exercise and enjoying weather was observed in both parks and community greenspaces. Additionally, there was a noticeable reduction in activities like playing with children, nature appreciation, specifically within community greenspaces. These findings extend our understanding of urban residents' engagement with greenspaces in a transitioning post-pandemic context, providing valuable insights in managing greenspaces during and after public health crises.

Defending the Candid Gaze: Theory, the Archive, and Depolicing Street Photography

Abstract Since practically the dawn of photography, there have been concerns over street photography’s invasive and potentially exploitive nature, from late nineteenth-century tropes of pests and “sneaky characters” trailing women in public parks to more recent panics over “camera fiends” and even state security warnings of the need to be vigilant of photographers potentially casing infrastructure for terrorist attacks. This article argues, using potted history and critical theory, that such straw-man arguments distract from the real dangers that the policing and curtailment of public photography pose, characteristic, as they are, of authoritarian regimes where control over taking and circulating images is an integral part of oppressive state and corporate apparatuses. Street photography’s implicit role in the construction of an archive of aesthetic and documentary value can be understood as a type of resistance to such threatened microfascisms.

Participation of Local Communities in the Management of Post-Mine Areas in Cities

The management of post-mining reservoirs as part of urban blue infrastructure is linked to the implementation of pro-environmental policies at different levels (from local–municipal to European). Local communities, as beneficiaries of measures taken by city authorities, recognise the need for active participation in decision-making processes. They engage in making decisions on blue spaces in urban areas. These include public and natural watercourses and their surroundings, but also water-filled basins of various origins, including post-mining pits. This paper strives to answer how local communities are involved in activities for developing and managing post-mine areas filled with water within city limits. The methods used (including field observation, spatial analyses, and desk research) allowed us to classify post-mining pits according to their functions and the degree of social participation in their development process. The analysed post-mining pits were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of pit reservoirs transformed with the participation of local inhabitants into recreational grounds. The second comprised reservoirs transformed under local zoning plans (with residents consulted) expected to ultimately prop up the city’s green infrastructure. In turn, the third group consists of quasi-natural reservoirs deemed natural enclaves by city residents. The environmental analysis showed that pits were naturalised. One of them was subject to legal protection on account of biodiversity. Post-mine areas in Bydgoszcz play an important environmental role, and some are integral recreational sites, e.g., the Balaton reservoir. They materially affect the inhabitants’ daily contact with nature, which improves life quality.

Closing nature connectedness to foster environmental culture: investigating urban residents’ utilization and contribution to parks in Vietnam

This study aims to investigate the potential for enhancing financial contributions to nature conservation and/or environment protection contributed by citizens and/or the private sector in Vietnam. Specifically, the study empirically examines the antecedents of the utilization patterns and financial contribution of city dwellers to public and national parks. We introduce and use a novel CBMM analytic method (Bayesian mindsponge mindspongeconomics combined with Culture Tower) to analyze the dataset of 535 Vietnamese urban residents surveyed in late 2020. Empirical results demonstrate that the more frequently individuals visit parks, the more likely they are to contribute financially to projects in parks as a whole. In addition, having trees in the house positively correlates with donations to national park conservation projects, while the intention to visit a national park in the next 12 months encourages urban residents to contribute to planting projects in public parks. These results suggest that improved environmental literacy and nature connectedness can help encourage citizens to act collectively to help alleviate the financial burden in dealing with environmental issues. We also found that the increased frequency of bushmeat consumption impedes people’s intention to support conservation projects, implying that the consumer culture of nature might be a hindrance in the efforts to engage the public. Based on the findings, this study offers not only the key solution to alleviate financial burdens for nature conservation but also paves the way to nurture and foster environmental culture associated with closer nature connectedness and improved consumption culture for a sustainable future in years to come.

Park Heritage of the Island of Krk between Urban Transformations and Climate Change

The island of Krk in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, is also called the Golden Island because of its favorable geographical location, the diversity of natural and urban landscapes, the beauty of the coast and the sea, the wealth of tangible and intangible heritage, and especially because of the opportunities for living and working. During the last century and in this century, urban landscapes have been exposed to dramatic changes that transformed old castles or former smaller settlements of the local population into tourist centers and desirable places for permanent or temporary residence. A significant part of their complex structure is the cultural and historical heritage, within which the island’s park heritage has so far been insufficiently recognized and valued. Therefore, this paper examines forty selected public park spaces in the area of all local self-government units of the island of Krk in the context of urban transformations and climate change. It is concluded that the island’s park heritage has often been created as a result of urban transformations in which, despite being exposed to constant changes, it is mostly preserved, but that recently, new elements of this heritage are emerging. A new challenge is the threat of the consequences of climate change—increasingly frequent and long-lasting droughts, extreme precipitation and flash floods, stormy winds, rising sea level and salinization, which further emphasizes the need to preserve the park heritage of the island of Krk in the context of resistance to climate change.

Direct Democracy and Funding for Public Park and Recreation Services: Consumer Confidence and Support for Greenspace Ballot Initiatives

Maintaining or increasing tax-based allocations is a strategic imperative for many public park and recreation agencies. Some agencies have the capacity to do so by sponsoring ballot initiatives proposing property tax increases in support of operational and capital expenses. In this manuscript we investigate the role of beliefs about the economy in shaping perceptions of such “greenspace ballot initiatives.” Specifically, we examine whether attitudes toward, and support for, greenspace ballot initiatives vary according to an individual’s willingness to buy—operationalized as their consumer confidence. Our results indicate that—independent of income—voters with higher levels of consumer confidence feel more positively toward ballot initiatives that would raise their property taxes to support public parks and recreation, and are more likely to vote in favor of them. We conclude by discussing potential implications for decision makers and future research efforts.