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Evidence Base Home » Parks and Open Spaces » Access to parks and open space leads to positive general health and wellbeing and improves healing

Articles in Access to parks and open space leads to positive general health and wellbeing and improves healing.

  • A classic study demonstrated that patients with views of trees vs. views of a brick wall had shorter hospitalizations, less need for painkillers, and fewer negative comments in the nurses' notes.

    Ulrich RS. 1984. View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science 224:421.

  • Research in the Netherlands found that in areas where 90% of the environment around the home is green, only 10.2% of the residents feel unhealthy, as compared with areas in which 10% of the environment is green, where 15.5% of the residents feel unhealthy.

    Maas J, Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, de Vries S, Spreeuwenberg P. 2006. Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation? J Epidemiology Community Health 60(7):587-592.

  • Living in proximity to green space is associated with reduced self-reported health symptoms, better self-rated health, and higher scores on general health questionnaires.

    Vries S, de Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, Spreeuwenberg P. Natural environments - healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between green space and health. Environment and Planning. 2003;35(10):1717-1731.

  • All types of green space were found to be effective at improving health status in a study conducted in the Netherlands. The study found the same benefit from living near city parks, agricultural areas, and forests.

    Trust for Public Land. The Benefits of Parks: why America needs more city parks and open space. 2005.

  • Research has shown that a natural environment and green space have a positive effect on health and wellbeing by reducing stress and fatigue and improving mental health and longevity.

    Groenewegen, PP, van den Berg, AE, de Vries, S, Verheij, R. Vitamin G: effects of green space on health, well-being, and social safety. BMC Public Health 2006, 6:149.

  • A review article in the journal, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, cites evidence that interaction with the natural world is a vital part of biopsychosocial-spiritual well-being. Studies reviewed showed that recovery from stressful situations occurred more quickly in individuals who viewed nature scenes than it did for those who viewed a traffic video or a video of a pedestrian mall.

    Irvine, KN, Warber, SL. Greening healthcare: Practicing as if the natural environment really mattered. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Sep/Oct 2002; 8,5; pg. 76.

  • Without outdoor places to play, children are less likely to exercise regularly and may face elevated risks for diabetes, obesity, and asthma.

    Trust for Public Land. No Place to Play: a comparative analysis of park access in seven major cities. November 2004.

  • Children performing activities in green settings have shown reduced symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Furthermore, the “greener” a child’s play area, the less severe his or her attention deficit symptoms.

    Faber Tyler A, Kuo FE, Sullivan WC. 2001. Coping with ADD: The surprising connection to green play settings. Environment and Behavior. 33(1): 54-77.